Top 10 Worst Places To Live In California In 2025

Top 10 Worst Places to Live In California . Top 10 Worst Cities In California to Live, Raise a Family, Job or Retire. Top 10 Worst Towns in California. Top 10 Worst Villages in California. If you’re thinking about a move to California, here are the places you should avoid to live, retire or raise a family. 10 Most Dangerous Cities In California You Should Never Move To. Top 10 Worst Cities To Live In North Carolina. 10 Places in California You Should NEVER Move To.

 Top 10 Worst Places To Live In California

1. San Bernardino
2. Hemet
3. Oakland
4. Fresno
5. Chico
6. Los Angeles
7. Santa Monica
8. Stockton
9. Arden Arcade
10. Berkeley

1. San Bernardino

San Bernardino is a city in California State in USA with a population of 216784 residents. San Bernardino ranks 10th in unemployment, 1st in poverty and 2nd in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 11th in overall crime, 1st in violent crime and 19th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of San Bernardino is 23.7%, which is 69.29% higher than national average. The typical household in San Bernardino earns $49287 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 15 area households lives on an income of less than 10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 50.6% of households earn less than 50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

In San Bernardino, only 70% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of San Bernardino remained 8.7%, which is 85.11% higher than national rate. While median income in San Bernardino remained $49287, which is 26.98% lower than national average.



The overall crime rate in city is 79.12% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 261.29% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 43.02% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 71 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 36 chance of being victim of property crime.



Population : 216784
Unemployment Rate : 8.7%
Poverty : 23.7%
Median Home Value : $272600
Median Home Income : $49287
Overall Score : 4/10

2. Hemet

Hemet is a city in California State in USA with a population of 84686 residents. Hemet ranks 1st in unemployment, 10th in poverty and 1st in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 31st in overall crime, 43rd in violent crime and 31st in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Hemet is 17.8%, which is 27.14% higher than national average. The typical household in Hemet earns $43152 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

In Hemet, only 80% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Hemet remained 12%, which is 155.32% higher than national rate. While median income in Hemet remained $43152, which is 36.07% lower than national average.

The overall crime rate in city is 19.37% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 3.92% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 22.43% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 244 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 41 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 84686
Unemployment Rate : 12%
Poverty : 17.8%
Median Home Value : $213000
Median Home Income : $43152
Overall Score : 5/10

3. Oakland

Oakland is a city in California State in USA with a population of 422575 residents. Oakland ranks 28th in unemployment, 25th in poverty and 53rd in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 1st in overall crime, 2nd in violent crime and 1st in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Oakland is 14.6%, which is 4.29% higher than national average. The typical household in Oakland earns $80143 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

In Oakland, only 84% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Oakland remained 6%, which is 27.66% higher than national rate. While median income in Oakland remained $80143, which is 18.73% higher than national average. Not only are incomes low in the town, but it also has a high cost of living, meaning a dollar does not go as far as it might elsewhere.


The overall crime rate in city is 175.22% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 232.71% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 163.83% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 75 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 19 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 422575
Unemployment Rate : 6%
Poverty : 14.6%
Median Home Value : $730000
Median Home Income : $80143
Overall Score : 7/10

4. Fresno

Fresno is a city in California State in USA with a population of 526147 residents. Fresno ranks 5th in unemployment, 2nd in poverty and 5th in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 12th in overall crime, 19th in violent crime and 8th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Fresno is 23.5%, which is 67.86% higher than national average. The typical household in Fresno earns $53368 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 13 area households lives on an income of less than 10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 47.4% of households earn less than 50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

In Fresno, only 79% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Fresno remained 9.5%, which is 102.13% higher than national rate. While median income in Fresno remained $53368, which is 20.94% lower than national average.


The overall crime rate in city is 66.23% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 43.12% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 70.82% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 178 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 30 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 526147
Unemployment Rate : 9.5%
Poverty : 23.5%
Median Home Value : $256000
Median Home Income : $53368
Overall Score : 5/10

5. Chico

Chico is a city in California State in USA with a population of 98683 residents. Chico ranks 18th in unemployment, 3rd in poverty and 13th in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 43rd in overall crime, 27th in violent crime and 55th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Chico is 22.4%, which is 60% higher than national average. The typical household in Chico earns $57357 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 12 area households lives on an income of less than 10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 46.1% of households earn less than 50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

In Chico, only 93% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Chico remained 7.3%, which is 55.32% higher than national rate. While median income in Chico remained $57357, which is 15.03% lower than national average.


The overall crime rate in city is 7.34% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 32.11% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 2.43% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 183 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 47 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 98683
Unemployment Rate : 7.3%
Poverty : 22.4%
Median Home Value : $349300
Median Home Income : $57357
Overall Score : 7/10

6. Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city in California State in USA with a population of 3973278 residents. Los Angeles ranks 21st in unemployment, 15th in poverty and 21st in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 29th in overall crime, 11th in violent crime and 44th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Los Angeles is 16.9%, which is 20.71% higher than national average. The typical household in Los Angeles earns $65290 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

In Los Angeles, only 77% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Los Angeles remained 6.9%, which is 46.81% higher than national rate. While median income in Los Angeles remained $65290, which is 3.27% lower than national average.


The overall crime rate in city is 22.33% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 86.06% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 9.7% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 138 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 46 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 3973278
Unemployment Rate : 6.9%
Poverty : 16.9%
Median Home Value : $670700
Median Home Income : $65290
Overall Score : 6/10

7. Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a city in California State in USA with a population of 91600 residents. Santa Monica 4th in overall crime, 16th in violent crime and 4th in property crime in the state.


The overall crime rate in city is 106.97% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 54.12% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 117.45% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 169 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 24 chance of being victim of property crime. The unemployment rate of Santa Monica remained 6.3%, which is 34.04% higher than national rate.


Population : 91600
Unemployment Rate : 6.3%
Poverty : 10.1%
Median Home Value : $1452100
Median Home Income : $98300
Overall Score : 8.5/10

8. Stockton

Stockton is a city in California State in USA with a population of 311103 residents. Stockton ranks 13th in unemployment, 16th in poverty and 15th in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 10th in overall crime, 3rd in violent crime and 16th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Stockton is 16.8%, which is 20% higher than national average. The typical household in Stockton earns $58393 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

The unemployment rate of Stockton remained 8.1%, which is 72.34% higher than national rate. While median income in Stockton remained $58393, which is 13.49% lower than national average.


The overall crime rate in city is 81.53% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 229.18% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 52.27% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 77 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 33 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 311103
Unemployment Rate : 8.1%
Poverty : 16.8%
Median Home Value : $298200
Median Home Income : $58393
Overall Score : 6/10

9. Arden Arcade

Arden Arcade is a city in California State in USA with a population of 93719 residents. Arden Arcade ranks 12th in unemployment, 4th in poverty and 4th in lowest median income in the California.

The poverty rate of Arden Arcade is 21.9%, which is 56.43% higher than national average. The typical household in Arden Arcade earns $52694 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 5 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 14 area households lives on an income of less than 10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 47.7% of households earn less than 50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The unemployment rate of Arden Arcade remained 8.3%, which is 76.6% higher than national rate. While median income in Arden Arcade remained $52694, which is 21.93% lower than national average.


Population : 93719
Unemployment Rate : 8.3%
Poverty : 21.9%
Median Home Value : $386600
Median Home Income : $52694
Overall Score : 7/10

10. Berkeley

Berkeley is a city in California State in USA with a population of 123065 residents. Berkeley ranks 35th in unemployment, 10th in poverty and 70th in lowest median income in the California. City also ranks 2nd in overall crime, 35th in violent crime and 2nd in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of Berkeley is 17.8%, which is 27.14% higher than national average. The typical household in Berkeley earns $91259 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. The unemployment rate of Berkeley remained 5.2%, which is 10.64% higher than national rate.

The overall crime rate in city is 111.55% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 13.12% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 131.06% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 229 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 22 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 123065
Unemployment Rate : 5.2%
Poverty : 17.8%
Median Home Value : $1059500
Median Home Income : $91259
Overall Score : 8.5/10

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