countyscore

Best Counties for Families in California 2026

58 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in California

1Alpine County
51.2
2Shasta County
52.3
3Sierra County
52.4
4El Dorado County
49.8
5Placer County
46.5

All 58 Family-Ranked Counties in California

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Alpine County, CA6051.2
2Shasta County, CA6052.3
3Sierra County, CA5452.4
4El Dorado County, CA5449.8
5Placer County, CA5146.5
6Napa County, CA5043.7
7Marin County, CA4947.4
8Nevada County, CA4945.2
9Ventura County, CA4844.3
10Orange County, CA4844.3
11San Benito County, CA4843.3
12Santa Barbara County, CA4743.1
13San Mateo County, CA4747.6
14Colusa County, CA4741.8
15Sonoma County, CA4744.8
16Calaveras County, CA4643
17San Luis Obispo County, CA4642.9
18Mendocino County, CA4644.1
19Mariposa County, CA4543.9
20Riverside County, CA4537.1
21San Diego County, CA4542.3
22Monterey County, CA4539
23Glenn County, CA4541.8
24Kings County, CA4338.2
25Contra Costa County, CA4240.1
26Tulare County, CA4135.2
27Madera County, CA4135.5
28San Francisco County, CA4143.6
29Inyo County, CA4141
30Sacramento County, CA4038.3
31Yolo County, CA4038
32Santa Clara County, CA4042.2
33Alameda County, CA4040.6
34Amador County, CA4041.9
35Modoc County, CA4049.6
36Del Norte County, CA3939.9
37Mono County, CA3938.5
38Santa Cruz County, CA3941.6
39Tuolumne County, CA3941.7
40Los Angeles County, CA3936.9
41Butte County, CA3939.3
42Yuba County, CA3937.7
43Merced County, CA3935.3
44San Bernardino County, CA3833.7
45Stanislaus County, CA3835.6
46Humboldt County, CA3740
47Lassen County, CA3740.4
48Sutter County, CA3735
49Solano County, CA3736.4
50San Joaquin County, CA3633.1
51Trinity County, CA3648.3
52Fresno County, CA3533
53Tehama County, CA3536.7
54Imperial County, CA3533.7
55Plumas County, CA3540.9
56Siskiyou County, CA3137.9
57Kern County, CA3127.8
58Lake County, CA2431.6

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in California?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Alpine County ranks as the top family county in California with a family score of 60.

How many counties in California are ranked for families?

We rank 58 counties in California for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse California Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.