Living in Stockton, CA
Big city in California
Stockton is a big city in California, home to about 320,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is Stockton a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Strong healthcare: 2 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: SMF is 52 mi away
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Fewer graduates: 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Few dog parks: 1 within 9 mi
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.7× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.71% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Stockton ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Stockton: common questions
What is the cost of living in Stockton?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $407k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,420 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 105, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Stockton?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.71% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Stockton safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.7× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Stockton?
Stockton has mild winters: winter days average around 61°F and summer days around 93°F.
Does Stockton get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.92 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Stockton?
The nearest major airport is SMF, about 52 mi away.
How Stockton scores
Each bar compares Stockton with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Stockton right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.