Do you live in one of the most miserable places in California?
Only a third of Californians say they are truly happy. That’s too bad, considering that folks in California don’t really have it too bad in the grand scheme of things.
But, we were curious – which California cities might be the most miserable? We’re about to find out, using Saturday Night Science and data.
After analyzing the 428 largest cities, we sadly present the most miserable cities in the Golden State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably don’t live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Villa Park is the happiest place in California.
For more California reading, check out:
The 10 Most Miserable Places In California For 2023
/10
Population: 13,881
Poverty Level: 25.6%
Median Home Price $180,200
Married Households 10.0%
Households With Kids 59.72%
More on Avenal: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 12,534
Poverty Level: 37.5%
Median Home Price $202,900
Married Households 6.0%
Households With Kids 69.61%
More on Mendota: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 37,229
Poverty Level: 21.0%
Median Home Price $239,100
Married Households 17.0%
Households With Kids 57.54%
More on Adelanto: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 44,421
Poverty Level: 13.8%
Median Home Price $340,800
Married Households 16.0%
Households With Kids 50.52%
More on Los Banos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 5,651
Poverty Level: 11.3%
Median Home Price $252,800
Married Households 15.0%
Households With Kids 39.92%
More on Dos Palos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 23,517
Poverty Level: 6.5%
Median Home Price $350,300
Married Households 21.0%
Households With Kids 60.63%
More on Patterson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 9,680
Poverty Level: 48.7%
Median Home Price $191,300
Married Households 8.0%
Households With Kids 61.05%
More on Orange Cove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 8,040
Poverty Level: 32.7%
Median Home Price $185,200
Married Households 9.0%
Households With Kids 62.49%
More on Firebaugh: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 6,277
Poverty Level: 40.3%
Median Home Price $190,000
Married Households 4.0%
Households With Kids 45.08%
More on Huron: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 12,154
Poverty Level: 7.7%
Median Home Price $297,000
Married Households 26.0%
Households With Kids 45.64%
More on Newman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Methodology: How We Measured The Most Miserable Cities In The Golden State
To rank the unhappiest places in California, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2017-2021 report for the happy criteria, flipped the list with Saturday Night Science, and it spit out the answer.
Like magic.
Here are the criteria we used to measure misery:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of families with kids
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 428 places in California with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 428 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the most miserable (Any ties were given to the larger place).
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Miserable Index for each place with the lowest overall Miserable Index “earning” the title “Most Miserable City In California.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of states, most miserable to happiest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2023, and it’s our tenth time ranking the most miserable cities in California.
There You Have It – The Least Happy Cities In California
As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in California is usually a subjective matter.
But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
If you’re curious enough, here are the happiest cities in California, according to science:
- Villa Park
- Auburn
- Pismo Beach
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
- Richest Cities In California
- Safest Places In California
- Worst Places To Live In California
- Most Expensive Places To Live In California
Miserable Cities In California For 2023
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avenal, CA | 13,881 | 25.6% | $180,200 | 10.0% | 59.72% |
| 2 | Mendota, CA | 12,534 | 37.5% | $202,900 | 6.0% | 69.61% |
| 3 | Adelanto, CA | 37,229 | 21.0% | $239,100 | 17.0% | 57.54% |
| 4 | Los Banos, CA | 44,421 | 13.8% | $340,800 | 16.0% | 50.52% |
| 5 | Dos Palos, CA | 5,651 | 11.3% | $252,800 | 15.0% | 39.92% |
| 6 | Patterson, CA | 23,517 | 6.5% | $350,300 | 21.0% | 60.63% |
| 7 | Orange Cove, CA | 9,680 | 48.7% | $191,300 | 8.0% | 61.05% |
| 8 | Firebaugh, CA | 8,040 | 32.7% | $185,200 | 9.0% | 62.49% |
| 9 | Huron, CA | 6,277 | 40.3% | $190,000 | 4.0% | 45.08% |
| 10 | Newman, CA | 12,154 | 7.7% | $297,000 | 26.0% | 45.64% |
| 11 | Perris, CA | 78,106 | 12.1% | $333,900 | 17.0% | 59.44% |
| 12 | Lynwood, CA | 67,497 | 16.5% | $449,300 | 9.0% | 53.25% |
| 13 | Huntington Park, CA | 55,439 | 19.9% | $452,300 | 7.0% | 50.83% |
| 14 | San Pablo, CA | 31,975 | 12.4% | $413,000 | 8.0% | 47.0% |
| 15 | Victorville, CA | 132,924 | 18.8% | $257,400 | 19.0% | 48.45% |
| 16 | La Puente, CA | 38,447 | 9.4% | $467,200 | 11.0% | 46.85% |
| 17 | South Gate, CA | 93,308 | 14.3% | $470,200 | 10.0% | 48.36% |
| 18 | Lindsay, CA | 12,551 | 29.5% | $212,200 | 11.0% | 50.36% |
| 19 | Rialto, CA | 103,799 | 14.6% | $350,000 | 18.0% | 50.15% |
| 20 | Cudahy, CA | 23,003 | 29.1% | $434,200 | 9.0% | 49.84% |
| 21 | Lathrop, CA | 28,078 | 11.3% | $430,800 | 19.0% | 56.5% |
| 22 | Compton, CA | 96,083 | 17.3% | $423,000 | 11.0% | 46.76% |
| 23 | Moreno Valley, CA | 208,371 | 13.5% | $353,400 | 17.0% | 48.96% |
| 24 | Livingston, CA | 14,078 | 18.6% | $242,400 | 10.0% | 49.77% |
| 25 | Arvin, CA | 19,568 | 27.9% | $193,100 | 12.0% | 63.21% |
| 26 | Ceres, CA | 49,132 | 16.1% | $305,000 | 19.0% | 46.65% |
| 27 | Corcoran, CA | 22,616 | 27.6% | $176,900 | 14.0% | 49.89% |
| 28 | Palmdale, CA | 167,987 | 15.8% | $332,400 | 18.0% | 47.35% |
| 29 | Bell, CA | 33,915 | 23.3% | $450,900 | 7.0% | 48.4% |
| 30 | Hesperia, CA | 99,287 | 18.9% | $279,600 | 23.0% | 45.95% |
| 31 | San Jacinto, CA | 53,299 | 18.0% | $291,100 | 21.0% | 45.7% |
| 32 | Chowchilla, CA | 18,826 | 16.0% | $241,000 | 17.0% | 48.66% |
| 33 | Baldwin Park, CA | 72,813 | 13.1% | $464,800 | 10.0% | 42.72% |
| 34 | Jurupa Valley, CA | 104,684 | 11.6% | $416,300 | 19.0% | 48.61% |
| 35 | Madera, CA | 66,173 | 27.4% | $255,500 | 19.0% | 54.9% |
| 36 | Wasco, CA | 27,505 | 19.2% | $187,100 | 14.0% | 47.11% |
| 37 | Pittsburg, CA | 75,701 | 10.3% | $456,300 | 16.0% | 39.49% |
| 38 | Hollister, CA | 41,077 | 9.3% | $566,900 | 24.0% | 50.03% |
| 39 | Williams, CA | 5,520 | 10.2% | $270,700 | 20.0% | 58.95% |
| 40 | Bell Gardens, CA | 39,870 | 25.6% | $423,700 | 6.0% | 53.61% |
| 41 | Delano, CA | 52,206 | 18.7% | $212,700 | 14.0% | 55.01% |
| 42 | Maywood, CA | 25,477 | 20.9% | $481,800 | 6.0% | 55.2% |
| 43 | Calexico, CA | 38,798 | 21.0% | $233,100 | 10.0% | 43.28% |
| 44 | Barstow, CA | 25,123 | 29.8% | $147,000 | 16.0% | 39.19% |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | 317,818 | 16.3% | $324,600 | 17.0% | 42.43% |
| 46 | Mcfarland, CA | 14,085 | 29.3% | $201,400 | 12.0% | 62.87% |
| 47 | Montclair, CA | 37,871 | 17.8% | $423,300 | 15.0% | 46.72% |
| 48 | California City, CA | 14,914 | 25.4% | $169,100 | 25.0% | 35.55% |
| 49 | San Bernardino, CA | 220,821 | 20.9% | $293,000 | 16.0% | 45.74% |
| 50 | Hemet, CA | 88,903 | 17.2% | $226,000 | 20.0% | 33.5% |
| 51 | Lake Elsinore, CA | 68,822 | 13.2% | $392,200 | 21.0% | 48.05% |
| 52 | Reedley, CA | 25,168 | 18.4% | $227,900 | 17.0% | 52.86% |
| 53 | Fontana, CA | 208,087 | 11.5% | $423,100 | 20.0% | 52.51% |
| 54 | Antioch, CA | 114,750 | 12.9% | $467,500 | 19.0% | 38.51% |
| 55 | Watsonville, CA | 52,966 | 12.9% | $542,900 | 12.0% | 46.13% |
| 56 | Paramount, CA | 53,904 | 14.4% | $412,300 | 10.0% | 49.91% |
| 57 | Farmersville, CA | 10,441 | 24.4% | $189,100 | 17.0% | 50.31% |
| 58 | Woodlake, CA | 7,458 | 31.1% | $217,200 | 14.0% | 56.55% |
| 59 | Atwater, CA | 31,401 | 17.3% | $265,200 | 20.0% | 41.81% |
| 60 | Kerman, CA | 15,817 | 16.2% | $252,300 | 21.0% | 52.96% |
| 61 | Suisun City, CA | 29,436 | 9.8% | $418,900 | 18.0% | 36.99% |
| 62 | Murrieta, CA | 111,096 | 6.1% | $458,000 | 26.0% | 45.23% |
| 63 | Artesia, CA | 16,390 | 6.7% | $635,000 | 12.0% | 37.97% |
| 64 | Bellflower, CA | 79,070 | 12.7% | $535,300 | 15.0% | 40.59% |
| 65 | Chula Vista, CA | 274,818 | 9.1% | $565,400 | 16.0% | 42.82% |
| 66 | Norwalk, CA | 103,330 | 8.9% | $487,800 | 16.0% | 44.54% |
| 67 | Pomona, CA | 151,592 | 16.4% | $446,300 | 13.0% | 41.02% |
| 68 | American Canyon, CA | 21,735 | 7.2% | $553,800 | 16.0% | 49.01% |
| 69 | Menifee, CA | 101,089 | 7.9% | $371,500 | 26.0% | 36.76% |
| 70 | El Monte, CA | 110,144 | 18.1% | $508,200 | 8.0% | 40.68% |
| 71 | Beaumont, CA | 52,081 | 8.8% | $356,700 | 27.0% | 47.56% |
| 72 | Lompoc, CA | 44,232 | 19.4% | $353,100 | 16.0% | 42.19% |
| 73 | Commerce, CA | 12,459 | 14.8% | $455,700 | 13.0% | 38.2% |
| 74 | Oakley, CA | 42,996 | 6.7% | $502,100 | 31.0% | 46.47% |
| 75 | Waterford, CA | 9,100 | 16.8% | $298,000 | 26.0% | 45.99% |
| 76 | Porterville, CA | 62,164 | 21.0% | $208,400 | 20.0% | 47.98% |
| 77 | Vallejo, CA | 125,350 | 11.0% | $434,800 | 16.0% | 32.96% |
| 78 | Galt, CA | 25,385 | 9.2% | $382,000 | 30.0% | 42.24% |
| 79 | Gustine, CA | 5,990 | 8.3% | $322,300 | 27.0% | 25.59% |
| 80 | Parlier, CA | 14,666 | 30.2% | $183,000 | 11.0% | 56.93% |
| 81 | Merced, CA | 85,993 | 26.6% | $268,600 | 18.0% | 42.03% |
| 82 | Clearlake, CA | 16,468 | 26.5% | $155,200 | 18.0% | 28.82% |
| 83 | Wildomar, CA | 36,511 | 9.7% | $413,800 | 26.0% | 37.1% |
| 84 | Santa Maria, CA | 109,309 | 12.8% | $376,100 | 13.0% | 49.52% |
| 85 | Guadalupe, CA | 8,138 | 27.7% | $337,100 | 13.0% | 55.83% |
| 86 | San Fernando, CA | 24,086 | 10.1% | $525,200 | 15.0% | 40.86% |
| 87 | National City, CA | 56,846 | 15.2% | $452,100 | 12.0% | 37.51% |
| 88 | Oxnard, CA | 202,981 | 10.6% | $496,100 | 13.0% | 46.46% |
| 89 | Montebello, CA | 62,828 | 11.4% | $557,400 | 14.0% | 35.37% |
| 90 | Riverbank, CA | 24,714 | 14.3% | $343,300 | 21.0% | 46.83% |
| 91 | Ontario, CA | 175,223 | 13.0% | $438,300 | 18.0% | 42.87% |
| 92 | Selma, CA | 24,545 | 23.4% | $209,500 | 20.0% | 46.62% |
| 93 | Apple Valley, CA | 75,311 | 16.9% | $292,500 | 27.0% | 36.94% |
| 94 | Fairfield, CA | 118,932 | 8.8% | $460,100 | 18.0% | 39.53% |
| 95 | Holtville, CA | 5,672 | 22.1% | $220,200 | 12.0% | 30.9% |
| 96 | Manteca, CA | 82,408 | 10.7% | $432,100 | 26.0% | 39.07% |
| 97 | Stanton, CA | 38,167 | 13.9% | $454,200 | 11.0% | 37.11% |
| 98 | Oakdale, CA | 23,016 | 12.1% | $354,400 | 30.0% | 38.2% |
| 99 | Tracy, CA | 92,792 | 9.8% | $508,500 | 20.0% | 45.28% |
| 100 | Coalinga, CA | 17,560 | 16.5% | $200,200 | 18.0% | 39.14% |
