You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in California.
The median household income in Santa Clara County, the richest county in California is $164,281, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 58 counties in the Golden State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In California For 2026
What is the richest county in California? The richest county in California is Santa Clara County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Trinity County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in California. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in California and the cheapest places to live in California.
The Richest Counties In California For 2026
1. Santa Clara County
Biggest Place: San Jose
Population: 1,902,047
Median Income: $164,281 (highest)
Median Home Price: $1,679,213 (highest)
More on Santa Clara County: Data
2. San Mateo County
Biggest Place: San Mateo
Population: 742,340
Median Income: $158,855 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $1,606,596 (2nd highest)
More on San Mateo County: Data
3. Marin County
Biggest Place: San Rafael
Population: 257,969
Median Income: $149,091 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $1,469,865 (3rd highest)
More on Marin County: Data
4. San Francisco County
Biggest Place: San Francisco
Population: 830,235
Median Income: $140,970 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $1,357,007 (4th highest)
More on San Francisco County: Data
5. Alameda County
Biggest Place: Oakland
Population: 1,649,473
Median Income: $129,367 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $1,086,737 (7th highest)
More on Alameda County: Data
6. Orange County
Biggest Place: Anaheim
Population: 3,165,820
Median Income: $116,289 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $1,194,407 (5th highest)
More on Orange County: Data
7. Santa Cruz County
Biggest Place: Santa Cruz
Population: 264,926
Median Income: $111,093 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $1,149,399 (6th highest)
More on Santa Cruz County: Data
8. Contra Costa County
Biggest Place: Concord
Population: 1,165,012
Median Income: $127,229 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $789,907 (16th highest)
More on Contra Costa County: Data
9. Napa County
Biggest Place: Napa
Population: 134,869
Median Income: $111,471 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $887,245 (12th highest)
More on Napa County: Data
10. San Diego County
Biggest Place: San Diego
Population: 3,288,774
Median Income: $106,268 (14th highest)
Median Home Price: $941,930 (9th highest)
More on San Diego County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which California county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in California, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in California for each of the criteria from one to 58, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In California.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Golden State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in California. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In California For 2026
Living in California can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in California are Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Marin County, San Francisco County, Alameda County, Orange County, Santa Cruz County, Contra Costa County, Napa County, and San Diego County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in California according to the data:
- Trinity County
- Modoc County
- Siskiyou County
For more California reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Best Counties To Live In California
- Best Places To Live In California
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In California
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara County | 1,902,047 | $164,281 | $1,679,213 |
| 2 | San Mateo County | 742,340 | $158,855 | $1,606,596 |
| 3 | Marin County | 257,969 | $149,091 | $1,469,865 |
| 4 | San Francisco County | 830,235 | $140,970 | $1,357,007 |
| 5 | Alameda County | 1,649,473 | $129,367 | $1,086,737 |
| 6 | Orange County | 3,165,820 | $116,289 | $1,194,407 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz County | 264,926 | $111,093 | $1,149,399 |
| 8 | Contra Costa County | 1,165,012 | $127,229 | $789,907 |
| 9 | Napa County | 134,869 | $111,471 | $887,245 |
| 10 | San Diego County | 3,288,774 | $106,268 | $941,930 |
| 11 | Ventura County | 837,469 | $109,797 | $885,254 |
| 12 | San Benito County | 67,290 | $114,394 | $771,496 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara County | 443,701 | $98,161 | $994,383 |
| 14 | Placer County | 419,156 | $115,998 | $685,953 |
| 15 | San Luis Obispo County | 281,555 | $97,446 | $906,921 |
| 16 | Sonoma County | 485,040 | $104,674 | $792,143 |
| 17 | El Dorado County | 192,662 | $108,845 | $653,105 |
| 18 | Monterey County | 437,613 | $97,230 | $849,200 |
| 19 | Mono County | 13,148 | $99,415 | $755,676 |
| 20 | Los Angeles County | 9,808,667 | $90,112 | $888,344 |
| 21 | Solano County | 451,918 | $100,401 | $577,137 |
| 22 | Alpine County | 1,616 | $105,521 | $514,117 |
| 23 | Riverside County | 2,478,600 | $93,074 | $608,606 |
| 24 | Yolo County | 220,564 | $91,752 | $622,227 |
| 25 | San Joaquin County | 797,334 | $92,179 | $532,711 |
| 26 | Nevada County | 102,481 | $89,882 | $611,865 |
| 27 | Sacramento County | 1,594,006 | $92,175 | $530,242 |
| 28 | San Bernardino County | 2,197,104 | $85,478 | $551,490 |
| 29 | Stanislaus County | 553,990 | $81,468 | $467,165 |
| 30 | Sutter County | 98,857 | $79,704 | $438,590 |
| 31 | Amador County | 41,428 | $88,044 | $418,138 |
| 32 | Calaveras County | 46,248 | $78,647 | $433,276 |
| 33 | Inyo County | 18,739 | $73,991 | $529,157 |
| 34 | Madera County | 160,940 | $76,627 | $425,121 |
| 35 | Yuba County | 84,507 | $76,373 | $418,796 |
| 36 | Mendocino County | 90,244 | $68,092 | $489,567 |
| 37 | Tuolumne County | 54,498 | $77,404 | $388,487 |
| 38 | Fresno County | 1,016,725 | $74,201 | $409,962 |
| 39 | Colusa County | 21,984 | $75,672 | $370,444 |
| 40 | Shasta County | 181,436 | $72,636 | $370,887 |
| 41 | Mariposa County | 17,082 | $68,412 | $401,079 |
| 42 | Butte County | 207,929 | $67,928 | $402,207 |
| 43 | Kings County | 153,298 | $70,995 | $364,475 |
| 44 | Merced County | 290,201 | $65,510 | $418,061 |
| 45 | Humboldt County | 134,541 | $61,160 | $425,013 |
| 46 | Kern County | 915,075 | $70,210 | $363,090 |
| 47 | Tulare County | 478,693 | $71,300 | $360,206 |
| 48 | Del Norte County | 27,107 | $67,058 | $366,285 |
| 49 | Glenn County | 28,494 | $67,139 | $362,262 |
| 50 | Plumas County | 19,423 | $66,031 | $362,742 |
| 51 | Imperial County | 180,202 | $57,681 | $378,175 |
| 52 | Lassen County | 30,356 | $67,403 | $231,144 |
| 53 | Sierra County | 2,746 | $63,355 | $328,754 |
| 54 | Tehama County | 65,167 | $63,784 | $318,463 |
| 55 | Lake County | 68,152 | $60,621 | $305,225 |
| 56 | Siskiyou County | 43,466 | $59,095 | $278,754 |
| 57 | Modoc County | 8,600 | $59,455 | $191,780 |
| 58 | Trinity County | 15,860 | $53,002 | $246,519 |