Best Job Markets in California
Cities ranked by lowest unemployment rate · 50 cities · Updated 2026-04-05
This ranking shows the best job markets in California based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. All 50 cities are sorted by lowest unemployment rate from lowest to highest. Hartley leads the ranking with a value of 0.1% and a population of 1,966.
The top three cities are Hartley (0.1%), Bishop (0.3%), and Los Ranchos (0.3%). Data is updated nightly from official Census APIs. Click any city name to view its full demographic profile, or see the national best job markets ranking to compare across all 50 states. You can also explore all cities in California.
| Rank | City | Value | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hartley | 0.1% | 1,966 |
| #2 | Bishop | 0.3% | 3,793 |
| #3 | Los Ranchos | 0.3% | 1,521 |
| #4 | Soda Bay | 0.3% | 968 |
| #5 | Belvedere | 0.4% | 2,415 |
| #6 | Cambrian Park | 0.5% | 3,752 |
| #7 | Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek | 0.5% | 2,963 |
| #8 | Santa Ynez | 0.7% | 4,725 |
| #9 | Deer Park | 0.8% | 740 |
| #10 | Descanso | 0.9% | 1,670 |
| #11 | Bertsch-Oceanview | 1.0% | 2,197 |
| #12 | Coronita | 1.0% | 2,782 |
| #13 | La Habra Heights | 1.0% | 5,546 |
| #14 | Bolinas | 1.1% | 1,176 |
| #15 | Camanche Village | 1.1% | 2,233 |
| #16 | Mammoth Lakes | 1.3% | 7,233 |
| #17 | Twain Harte | 1.3% | 2,373 |
| #18 | Calimesa | 1.4% | 10,680 |
| #19 | Orange Blossom | 1.4% | 1,210 |
| #20 | Benton | 1.5% | 368 |
| #21 | El Nido | 1.5% | 564 |
| #22 | Leona Valley | 1.5% | 1,559 |
| #23 | North Richmond | 1.5% | 3,935 |
| #24 | Calistoga | 1.6% | 5,159 |
| #25 | Dobbins | 1.6% | 511 |
| #26 | Douglas City | 1.6% | 1,025 |
| #27 | Elfin Forest | 1.6% | 566 |
| #28 | Humboldt Hill | 1.6% | 3,421 |
| #29 | Mesa Vista | 1.6% | 315 |
| #30 | Monument Hills | 1.6% | 1,500 |
| #31 | Pine Hills | 1.6% | 3,200 |
| #32 | Somis | 1.6% | 1,260 |
| #33 | Swall Meadows | 1.6% | 433 |
| #34 | Acton | 1.7% | 7,721 |
| #35 | Burbank | 1.7% | 5,552 |
| #36 | Garberville | 1.7% | 1,568 |
| #37 | Modjeska | 1.7% | 696 |
| #38 | Trabuco Canyon | 1.7% | 1,378 |
| #39 | Chualar | 1.8% | 1,042 |
| #40 | Graton | 1.8% | 1,819 |
| #41 | Grayson | 1.8% | 1,164 |
| #42 | Lexington Hills | 1.8% | 2,777 |
| #43 | Sand City | 1.8% | 262 |
| #44 | Cayucos | 1.9% | 2,517 |
| #45 | Cowan | 1.9% | 497 |
| #46 | Mentone | 1.9% | 9,487 |
| #47 | Wilton | 1.9% | 6,198 |
| #48 | Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley | 2.0% | 1,999 |
| #49 | Arbuckle | 2.0% | 3,209 |
| #50 | Gold River | 2.0% | 7,661 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the best job markets in California?
Hartley ranks #1 for best job markets in California with a value of 0.1% and a population of 1,966.
How many cities are ranked for best job markets in California?
There are 50 cities ranked for best job markets in California. Rankings are based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
How does California compare to other states for best job markets?
You can compare California's city rankings to other states or view the national ranking at our national best job markets page, which lists the top 100 cities across all 50 states.