CountyScore

San Joaquin County

California · CA

#39 in California
57.7
County Score

County Report Card

About San Joaquin County, California

San Joaquin Outpaces National Median

San Joaquin County scores 60.2 out of 100, significantly exceeding the national median of 50.0 and placing it in the 66th percentile nationally. The county ranks among stronger-performing regions across the United States.

Slightly Below California Average

San Joaquin scores 60.2 against California's average of 61.3, placing it just below the state midpoint among 58 counties. The county performs solidly within California's competitive livability landscape.

Affordability, Low Taxes, Stable Income

San Joaquin excels with the lowest median rent in this group at $1,633 monthly and a Cost Score of 49.5, coupled with a Tax Score of 80.8 and effective tax rate of 0.765%. Median household income of $88,531 supports working-class stability.

Limited High-Income Opportunity

The county's Income Score of 41.2 suggests few high-wage employment opportunities compared to coastal peers, though its median income remains respectable. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality remain unavailable.

Best for Cost-Conscious Working Families

San Joaquin suits working-class and middle-income families prioritizing rental affordability and low taxes over urban amenities. The county delivers practical livability for households seeking budget-friendly inland living.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax80.8Cost49.5SafetyComing SoonHealth69.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome41.2Risk1.4WaterComing Soon
🏛80.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠49.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼41.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡1.4
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare San Joaquin County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Dougherty County
Georgia
57.7
Median income: $46,784
Hampden County
Massachusetts
57.7
Median income: $70,535
Montgomery County
Pennsylvania
57.7
Median income: $111,521
District of Columbia
District of Columbia
57.8
Median income: $106,287
Stephenson County
Illinois
57.8
Median income: $61,943

Deep Dives

San Joaquin County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in San Joaquin County

via TaxByCounty

San Joaquin taxes exceed national median

San Joaquin's effective tax rate of 0.765% sits above the national median of 0.714%, placing it in the upper-middle range nationally. The median property tax of $3,782 is 41% higher than the national median of $2,690, driven by the $494,500 median home value.

San Joaquin ranks above state average

San Joaquin County's 0.765% effective tax rate exceeds California's state average of 0.714%, positioning it in the upper-middle tier among state counties. The median tax of $3,782 remains slightly below the state median of $4,045.

San Joaquin moderately taxes compared inland

San Joaquin's 0.765% rate sits between Sacramento's 0.755% and Riverside's 0.821%, placing it in the middle of the inland Valley region. Home values are comparable to neighboring counties, keeping tax burdens relatively competitive.

Median San Joaquin home costs $3,782

With a median home value of $494,500, San Joaquin homeowners pay approximately $3,782 per year in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages may see total property-related taxes reach $4,147.

Request a free assessment review

San Joaquin County residents should verify their property assessments, as overvaluation is a common issue statewide. Filing an assessment appeal costs nothing and could deliver annual tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in San Joaquin County

via CostByCounty

San Joaquin rents align closely with America's

San Joaquin County's 22.1% rent-to-income ratio beats the national average of 22.4%, placing it among California's most affordable counties by comparison. With median household income of $88,531—18% above the national average of $74,755—San Joaquin offers genuine housing relief.

San Joaquin: California's affordability champion

San Joaquin's 22.1% rent-to-income ratio sits just below California's state average of 22.4%, making it the most balanced housing market in the examined counties. The county delivers both reasonable rents and solid incomes, creating true affordability in expensive California.

San Joaquin undercuts all Central Valley peers

San Joaquin's $1,633 median rent is $69 cheaper than Sacramento ($1,702) and $181 below Riverside ($1,814), offering genuine inland value. Home values of $494,500 nearly match Sacramento ($498,900), making San Joaquin a Central Valley affordability standout.

Housing claims less than one-fifth in San Joaquin

San Joaquin renters pay $1,633 monthly while homeowners spend $1,891—a $258 gap indicating balanced ownership accessibility. At $88,531 median income, housing expenses consume just 22.1% of typical earnings, leaving maximum financial flexibility.

San Joaquin: California's best-kept secret

Seeking California living without compromise? San Joaquin delivers the state's lowest rent-to-income ratio (22.1%) with $1,633 median rents and $494,500 homes. Families prioritizing affordability and financial flexibility should prioritize San Joaquin over pricier coastal or inland alternatives.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in San Joaquin County

via IncomeByCounty

San Joaquin earns 18% above nation

San Joaquin County's median household income of $88,531 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by nearly $14,000. The Central Valley agricultural hub demonstrates solid economic performance despite its rural character.

Matches California's average income

At $88,531, San Joaquin's median household income sits just above California's $87,001 state average. The county ranks in the middle tier among California's 58 counties, balancing lower housing costs with more modest wage growth than coastal regions.

San Joaquin competes in Central Valley

San Joaquin's $88,531 income nearly matches Sacramento County ($88,724) and significantly exceeds San Bernardino ($82,184). The county reflects typical Central Valley economic patterns, with agriculture, logistics, and regional manufacturing driving incomes.

Rent-to-income ratio is reasonable

San Joaquin's rent-to-income ratio of 22.1% is healthier than many California counties. With a median home value of $494,500, the county offers more housing affordability than coastal regions, making homeownership more achievable for working families.

Build wealth through local opportunity

San Joaquin's $88,531 median income and lower housing costs create a favorable environment for wealth accumulation. Residents should capitalize on the county's affordability by investing in property, retirement accounts, and local business opportunities that agricultural and logistics sectors provide.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in San Joaquin County

via HealthByCounty

San Joaquin falls short of national averages

San Joaquin residents live 76.4 years on average, 3.8 years below the U.S. average of 80.2 years. About 20.3% report poor or fair health, well above the national benchmark of 15%, indicating substantial population health challenges. These gaps reflect longstanding inequities in the region.

Below California health standard

At 76.4 years, San Joaquin's life expectancy trails California's 78.5-year average by 2.1 years, placing it among the state's lower-performing counties. The 7.6% uninsured rate is above the state average of 7.2%, suggesting coverage gaps. San Joaquin ranks below the state median on both metrics.

Rural county with regional health gap

San Joaquin's 76.4-year life expectancy is lower than Riverside (77.8), Sacramento (78.0), and San Benito (79.9), and significantly below San Luis Obispo (80.7) and San Diego (80.3). The 7.6% uninsured rate exceeds most peers except Riverside (8.3%) and San Bernardino (8.7%). San Joaquin faces persistent health disadvantage.

Provider and coverage gaps limit care

San Joaquin has 59 primary care providers and 291 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—below state norms. The 7.6% uninsured population faces barriers to preventive and mental health care, contributing to higher rates of poor health. Expanding both coverage and provider access is critical.

Coverage opens doors to better health

San Joaquin's 7.6% uninsured rate represents thousands of residents without access to preventive screenings, chronic disease management, and mental health support. Enrolling in Covered California or Medi-Cal at coveredca.com is the first step toward closing the county's health gap. Your health—and your county's—depends on it.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in San Joaquin County

via RiskByCounty

San Joaquin County's risk exceeds U.S. average

San Joaquin County's composite risk score of 98.60 places it in the "Relatively High" category, well above typical U.S. county hazard levels. This score surpasses California's average of 88.72, indicating substantial multi-hazard exposure across the Central Valley.

Third-riskiest county in California state

San Joaquin ranks among California's top five most disaster-threatened counties, driven primarily by extreme earthquake (99.30) and flood (97.74) risks. The county's Central Valley location creates chronic flooding vulnerability during wet seasons.

Comparable risk to Sacramento County

San Joaquin (98.60) is nearly equivalent to neighboring Sacramento County (98.12) in overall risk, with both facing severe earthquake and flood threats. Both Central Valley counties significantly outpace rural San Benito (85.24).

Earthquakes and floods are twin threats

San Joaquin's earthquake risk (99.30) and flood risk (97.74) dominate the hazard profile, with the latter heightened by Delta waterways and winter storm patterns. Wildfire risk (91.98) adds a third significant threat during dry seasons.

Earthquake and flood coverage essential

San Joaquin residents must add earthquake coverage to standard policies immediately, and should evaluate flood insurance if located in mapped flood zones or near levees and waterways. These two hazards account for the vast majority of the county's disaster risk.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.