Best counties to live in California

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 779,445
- Median household income: $82,837
- Median home value: $462,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,542 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Middle College High School (grade A+), Stockton Unified Early College Academy (grade A+), Aspire River Oaks Charter School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's High School (grade A), Lodi Academy (grade A minus), Jim Elliot Christian High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Mountain House (grade A minus), Ripon (grade B), Lincoln Village (grade B)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,651
- Median household income: $54,962
- Median home value: $184,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $796 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Surprise Valley Elementary School (grade B), Surprise Valley High School (grade B minus), Modoc High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: I'SOT School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Alturas (grade B minus), Canby (grade B minus), Newell (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 136,132
- Median household income: $57,881
- Median home value: $386,000 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,191 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Academy of the Redwoods, Early College High School (grade A+), Union Street Charter School (grade A), Northcoast Preparatory & Performing Arts Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Bernard's Academy (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade unavailable), Mistwood Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Arcata (grade B), McKinleyville (grade B minus), Cutten (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 1,008,280
- Median household income: $67,756
- Median home value: $338,200 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,207 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: University High School (grade A+), Design Science Middle College High School (grade A+), Clovis North High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: San Joaquin Memorial High School (grade A), Fresno Adventist Academy (grade A), Fresno California Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Clovis (grade A minus), Sunnyside (grade B), Kingsburg (grade B)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 437,609
- Median household income: $91,043
- Median home value: $683,700 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,873 (48% rent)
- Top public schools: Carmel High School (grade A+), Pacific Grove High School (grade A+), Carmel Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: York School (grade A+), Santa Catalina School (grade A+), Stevenson School - Upper Division (grade A+)
- Top places: Carmel-by-the-Sea (grade A+), Pacific Grove (grade A+), Del Monte Forest (grade A)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 99,101
- Median household income: $72,654
- Median home value: $375,400 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,289 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: South Sutter Charter School (grade A minus), Franklin Elementary School (grade A minus), Encinal Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian Schools (grade A minus), St. Isidore Catholic School (grade A+), Adventist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Live Oak (grade B), Yuba City (grade B minus), Meridian (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 181,852
- Median household income: $68,347
- Median home value: $327,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,232 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: University Preparatory (grade A), Millville Elementary School (grade A), Anderson New Technology High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Redding Christian School (grade B+), Bethel Christian School (grade unavailable), Liberty Christian Schools (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Shasta (grade B+), Cottonwood (grade B minus), Redding (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 102,322
- Median household income: $79,395
- Median home value: $559,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,487 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: William & Marian Ghidotti High School (grade A), Bitney Prep High School (grade A), Sierra Expeditionary Learning School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Sugar Bowl Academy (grade A+), Forest Lake Christian School (grade B+), Mount St. Mary's Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Truckee (grade A minus), Nevada City (grade B minus), Alta Sierra (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 18,829
- Median household income: $63,417
- Median home value: $325,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,131 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Round Valley Elementary School (grade A), Lone Pine High School (grade A), Bishop Union High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Bishop Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bishop (grade B), West Bishop (grade B minus), Furnace Creek (grade A)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 13,219
- Median household income: $82,038
- Median home value: $496,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,259 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Mammoth Middle School (grade A minus), Bridgeport Elementary School (grade A minus), Mammoth High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Eastern Sierra Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mammoth Lakes (grade B), Bridgeport (grade B), Benton (grade B)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 213,605
- Median household income: $66,085
- Median home value: $371,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,280 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Inspire School of Arts & Sciences (grade A), Core Butte Charter School (grade A), Pleasant Valley High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Paradise Adventist Academy (grade A minus), Chico Christian School (grade unavailable), Notre Dame School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Chico (grade B), Durham (grade B), Magalia (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 450,995
- Median household income: $97,037
- Median home value: $549,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,981 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Benicia High School (grade A), Joe Henderson Elementary School (grade A), Vanden High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick-St. Vincent Catholic High School (grade A), Vacaville Christian Schools (grade A), North Hills Christian School (grade B)
- Top places: Benicia (grade B+), Vacaville (grade B), Green Valley (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,291
- Population: 191,713
- Median household income: $99,246
- Median home value: $597,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,597 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Miller's Hill (grade A), Oak Ridge High School (grade A), Lakeview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: El Dorado Adventist School (grade B), Holy Trinity School (grade unavailable), Providence Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: El Dorado Hills (grade A), South Lake Tahoe (grade B), Shingle Springs (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,228
- Population: 9,936,690
- Median household income: $83,411
- Median home value: $732,200 (46% own)
- Median rent: $1,805 (54% rent)
- Top public schools: California Academy of Mathematics & Science (grade A+), Academy of the Canyons (grade A+), California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Harvard-Westlake School (grade A+), Flintridge Preparatory School (grade A+), Windward School (grade A+)
- Top places: Mid-City (grade A+), Ocean Park (grade A+), Sunset Park (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 1,094
- Population: 842,009
- Median household income: $102,141
- Median home value: $719,100 (64% own)
- Median rent: $2,140 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Oak Park High School (grade A+), Westlake High School (grade A+), Foothill Technology High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Thacher School (grade A+), Besant Hill School (grade A+), Villanova Preparatory School (grade A+)
- Top places: Oak Park (grade A), Thousand Oaks (grade A), Casa Conejo (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 923
- Population: 488,436
- Median household income: $99,266
- Median home value: $748,500 (62% own)
- Median rent: $2,029 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Wilson Elementary School (grade A+), Maria Carrillo High School (grade A), Liberty Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Sonoma Academy (grade A+), Redwood Adventist Academy (grade A+), Rio Lindo Adventist Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Sebastopol (grade B+), Glen Ellen (grade B+), Petaluma (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 646
- Population: 137,384
- Median household income: $105,809
- Median home value: $794,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $2,037 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Robert Louis Stevenson Intermediate School (grade A), Saint Helena High School (grade A), Saint Helena Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Justin-Siena High School (grade A+), Pacific Union College Preparatory School (grade A), Napa Christian Campus of Education (grade A)
- Top places: St. Helena (grade A), American Canyon (grade B+), Calistoga (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 607
- Population: 281,712
- Median household income: $90,158
- Median home value: $726,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,800 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Coast New Tech High School (grade A+), San Luis Obispo High School (grade A), Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School (grade A+), Coastal Christian School (grade A minus), San Luis Obispo Classical Academy (grade B)
- Top places: San Luis Obispo (grade A), Pismo Beach (grade A), Avila Beach (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 586
- Population: 1,579,211
- Median household income: $84,010
- Median home value: $465,900 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,599 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: West Campus (grade A+), Mira Loma High School (grade A+), Vista Del Lago High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sacramento Country Day School (grade A+), Christian Brothers High School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
- Top places: Los Cerros (grade A+), Empire Ranch (grade A+), Boulevard Park (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 573
- Population: 406,608
- Median household income: $109,375
- Median home value: $627,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,874 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Granite Bay High School (grade A+), Rocklin Academy Meyers (grade A+), Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lake Tahoe Preparatory School (grade A), Tahoe Expedition Academy (grade A minus), Weimar Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Olympus Pointe (grade A+), Granite Bay (grade A), Johnson Ranch (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 532
- Population: 445,213
- Median household income: $92,332
- Median home value: $714,800 (53% own)
- Median rent: $1,964 (47% rent)
- Top public schools: Montecito Union (grade A+), Cold Spring Elementary School (grade A+), Ballard Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cate School (grade A+), Laguna Blanca School (grade A+), Midland School (grade A+)
- Top places: Montecito (grade A), Goleta (grade A), Mission Canyon (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 501
- Population: 217,141
- Median household income: $85,097
- Median home value: $555,200 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,655 (48% rent)
- Top public schools: Davis Senior High School (grade A+), Robert E. Willett Elementary School (grade A), Cesar Chavez Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Woodland Christian School (grade B+), Davis Waldorf School (grade A), St. James School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Davis (grade A+), West Sacramento (grade B), Winters (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 387
- Population: 3,289,701
- Median household income: $96,974
- Median home value: $725,200 (54% own)
- Median rent: $2,011 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Canyon Crest Academy (grade A+), Torrey Pines High School (grade A+), Mt. Everest Academy (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Bishop's School (grade A+), Francis Parker School (grade A+), La Jolla Country Day School (grade A+)
- Top places: Solana Beach (grade A+), Carmel Valley (grade A+), University City (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 326
- Population: 268,571
- Median household income: $104,409
- Median home value: $951,300 (60% own)
- Median rent: $2,094 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Pacific Collegiate Charter School (grade A+), Happy Valley Elementary School (grade A+), Santa Cruz High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kirby School (grade A+), St. Francis High School - Salesian College Preparatory (grade A+), Monterey Bay Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Santa Cruz (grade A minus), Mount Hermon (grade A minus), Scotts Valley (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 244
- Population: 1,162,648
- Median household income: $120,020
- Median home value: $787,300 (67% own)
- Median rent: $2,234 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Campolindo High School (grade A+), Miramonte High School (grade A+), Dougherty Valley High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Athenian School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+), Carondelet High School (grade A+)
- Top places: Moraga (grade A+), San Ramon (grade A+), Walnut Creek (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 150
- Population: 260,485
- Median household income: $142,019
- Median home value: $1,291,800 (64% own)
- Median rent: $2,487 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Redwood High School (grade A+), Ross Elementary School (grade A+), Tamalpais High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Marin Academy (grade A+), The Branson School (grade A+), San Domenico School (grade A+)
- Top places: Corte Madera (grade A+), San Anselmo (grade A+), Larkspur (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 113
- Population: 3,175,227
- Median household income: $109,361
- Median home value: $862,900 (57% own)
- Median rent: $2,248 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Troy High School (grade A+), Orange County School of the Arts (grade A+), University High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sage Hill School (grade A+), Fairmont Preparatory Academy (grade A+), TVT Community Day School (grade A+)
- Top places: Irvine (grade A+), Woodbridge (grade A+), University Park (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 83
- Population: 1,916,831
- Median household income: $153,792
- Median home value: $1,316,800 (56% own)
- Median rent: $2,719 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Saratoga High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+), Khan Lab School (grade A+)
- Top places: Evergreen Park (grade A+), College Terrace (grade A+), University South (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 81
- Population: 754,250
- Median household income: $149,907
- Median home value: $1,441,300 (60% own)
- Median rent: $2,805 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Aragon High School (grade A+), Mills High School (grade A+), Carlmont High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Nueva School (grade A+), Crystal Springs Uplands School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+)
- Top places: Foster City (grade A+), Belmont (grade A+), Burlingame (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 71
- Population: 1,663,823
- Median household income: $122,488
- Median home value: $999,200 (54% own)
- Median rent: $2,229 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Amador Valley High School (grade A+), Foothill High School (grade A+), Piedmont High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), The Quarry Lane School (grade A+)
- Top places: North Berkeley (grade A+), Elmwood District (grade A+), Downtown Berkeley (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.