Stockton, CA

Census place 0675000 · pop 322,326

F28/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in CA
📍 California ranks #49 of 50 states →
🏆 Prop tax0.72% · top 29%
🚽 Crime1150/100k · bottom 2%
💡 Did you know?

In 2012 it became the largest U.S. city to ever file for bankruptcy at the time.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.72% property · US 0.99%8.99% sales · US 7.00%up to 13.30% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Violent crime rate1150/100k2

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

1150 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Unemployment rateCounty-level6.4%3

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

6.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time32 min11

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

32 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property crime rate2700/100k15

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2700 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults15.0%17

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

15.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level11 days19

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

11 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level98/10020

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

98/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher20.0%22

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

20.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership53.9%22

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

53.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Air quality (AQI)County-level51 AQI23

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

51 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$440,90025

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$440,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Physical inactivity29.0%30

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

29.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate15.5%33

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

15.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health18.1%35

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Rent$1,953/mo37

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$1,953/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Adult smoking13.8%45

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Income inequality0.4445

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Broadband access91.7%51

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

91.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$79,90756

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$79,907 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Population growth (5yr)+4.2%59

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+4.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Adult obesity31.8%68

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

31.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Property-tax burden0.72%71

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.72% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Frequently asked

Is Stockton, CA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Stockton scores 28/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is violent crime rate. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Stockton, CA?
Stockton reports 1150 violent crimes per 100k and 2700 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Stockton, CA expensive to live in?
Stockton has a median home value of $440,900 and typical rent around $1,953/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Stockton, CA?
Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (1150/100k) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Stockton, CA best at?
Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.72%) — 71/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: In 2012 it became the largest U.S. city to ever file for bankruptcy at the time.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.