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California

58 counties, 1,618 cities and towns, and 1,803 ZIP codes.

Population

39,287,377

Land area

155,859sq mi

People per sq mi

252

Cities and towns

1,618

Largest cities in California

Full map

California at a glance

  • No state in the U.S. has more people.
  • The median household income is $99,122, 23% above the U.S. median of $80,734.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $734,700 (about 2.2 times the U.S. figure) and median rent is $2,036 a month.
  • Its largest cities are Los Angeles (3.9 million), San Diego (1.4 million) and San Jose (990,138).

Local data for California

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

California, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$99,122

Poverty rate

12.0%

Median home value

$734,700

Prices -0.2% in a year

Median rent

$2,036/mo

Homeownership

55.9%

Bachelor's or higher

37.1%

Median age

37.9

Average commute

28.7 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (12,695,747), German Americans (2,671,714), Irish Americans (2,301,721).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Sep 2026, -0.4 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$96,963

18,210,243 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$86,232

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$342B

FY 2026, $8,660 per person

PPP loans

$103B

1,270,593 loans, 11,336,856 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$676M

Itemized, 2026 cycle

EconomyFederal spendingPPP loansCampaign finance

Environment and hazard risk

California, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

High-risk counties

31

of 58 rated by FEMA

Storm events since 1996

41,007

1,366 deaths

Flood insurance policies

140,683

$758M paid since 1978

Superfund sites

116

1,075 toxic release facilities

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2,107 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in California, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

28.0%

U.S. 33.3% -5.3 pts

Diabetes

11.7%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

10.9%

U.S. 12.8% -1.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

10.7%

U.S. 11.1% about the same

Largest cities in California

NamePopulationLand area (sq mi)
Los Angeles3,857,263470.5
San Diego1,389,526326.1
San Jose990,138177.9
San Francisco830,23546.7
Fresno545,970115.9
Sacramento528,70698.6
Long Beach455,54850.7
Oakland439,41856
Bakersfield411,986150.3
Anaheim344,52150.3
Stockton322,32663.3
Riverside319,06981.1
Santa Ana312,53427.4
Irvine311,69065.6
Chula Vista276,37549.6
Santa Clarita230,22173.6
Fremont228,29578.1
San Bernardino222,72462.1
Modesto219,21543.4
Fontana214,16943.3
Moreno Valley211,66651.3
Oxnard200,92826.5
Huntington Beach195,24027
Glendale190,74830.5
Ontario180,54750

Counties, cities and towns in California

Population shown. Largest 400 of 1,618 cities and towns listed

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Frequently asked questions

How many counties are in California?
California has 58 counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
What is the largest city in California?
Los Angeles is the largest city in California, with a population of about 3,857,263.
What is the population of California?
California has about 39,287,377 residents, based on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
How many ZIP codes are in California?
There are 1,803 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in California.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey)