California
Among the top 1% of US states for weather.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 2% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade A+, better than 100% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 16% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 70% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 37% of US states
- top 1% for comfortable days
- top 4% for sunny days
- bottom 1% for monthly rent
California is a U.S. state with about 39,356,000 residents. It grades A+ for weather and F for affordability. Standout strengths include comfortable days, sunny days, and walkability. It rates lower on income tax and natural disaster risk.
Official websiteca.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in California is $709k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in California is $95k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in California is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- California has a violent crime rate of 1171/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in California is 29 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$95k88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$71kbetter than 6% of US states
Home Value$709k98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 0% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$631kbetter than 2% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.73%better than 69% of US states
Income Tax13.30%better than 0% of US states
Sales Tax8.85%better than 14% of US states
Estimated total tax burden21.48%better than 4% of US states
Unemployment6.5%better than 12% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)53°F92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F43rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation16.1 in8th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall1.5 inbetter than 82% of US states
Sunny Days285 daysbetter than 96% of US states
Summer Humidity54°Fbetter than 78% of US states
Comfortable Days194 daysbetter than 100% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk98.8better than 0% of US states
Air Quality58 AQIbetter than 2% of US states
School Quality76.9better than 76% of US states
Violent Crime1171/100kbetter than 54% of US states
Property Crime2313/100kbetter than 22% of US states
Community
Population39,356,104100th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.318th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.6798th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0069th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+2910th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)35.2%4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.3%41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)39.7%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)14.9%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.9%67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time29 minbetter than 10% of US states
Walkability12.1/20better than 96% of US states
Airport Distance43 mibetter than 71% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access91.4%better than 94% of US states
Amenities Nearby0.88better than 10% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 41% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is California an affordable place to live?
- California is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $71k, better than 6% of comparable areas. Median rent is $2k.
- Is California safe?
- California is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1171/100k (better than 54%). Property crime is 2313/100k.
- What is the weather like in California?
- California averages 75°F in July and 53°F in January, with 16.1 in of annual precipitation and about 285 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in California?
- Public-school quality in California is above average, scoring better than 76% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in California?
- The average one-way commute in California is 29 min.