California

Population

Down 0.4% since 2020.

39,355,309

people, the largest of the 50 states and D.C.

Census Population Estimates, 2025. Rank among the 50 states and D.C. computed by the Almanac. Sources: Census Population Estimates

The workday

About 1 in 81 jobs here go to people who live in another state.

1.2%

of 17,855,349 jobs located in California are filled by people who live in another state.

Census LEHD LODES, 2023. Sources: Census LEHD LODES

Unemployment, 2026

The low came in May: 4.7%.

5.1%

in September 2026, the latest month released. A year earlier it was 5.6%.

BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, monthly, through September 2026. Not seasonally adjusted, so compare with the same month a year earlier. Sources: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics

Rent

Median rent is up 82% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

$2,036

a month. The U.S. median is $1,413.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024 (latest), with earlier 5-year windows. Sources: Census ACS 5-year

Room to build

The median rent is above what local wages can carry.

$1,161–$1,741

is the monthly rent range local workforce wages support.

• $2,036 median

Supportable rent computed by the Almanac from 2023 source wage data. Median rent: Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Computed by the Almanac, Census ACS 5-year

Building

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.

• 1,036,799 homes permitted in ten years, 2016–2025
• 48% of those were in multifamily buildings
• 81% of all homes were built before 2000

Census Building Permits Survey, 2016–2025; Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census Building Permits Survey, Census ACS 5-year

Home value

A median home costs 121% more than the U.S. median.

$734,700

median home value in California.

• $734,700 California
• $332,700 U.S.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census ACS 5-year