Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in California

Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Brawley, CA had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 376 cities in 2021, at 20.7%. Greenfield, CA had the lowest, at 1.6%. The median was 6% and the figure for California was 6.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest20.7Brawley, CA
Lowest1.6Greenfield, CA
Median6376 cities
California6.5History

Top 40 cities, 2021

Brawley, CA: 20.7 %Brawley, CA20.7Lindsay, CA: 20.5 %Lindsay, CA20.5California City, CA: 18 %California City, CA18Exeter, CA: 18 %Exeter, CA18Calexico, CA: 17.6 %Calexico, CA17.6Clearlake, CA: 16.9 %Clearlake, CA16.9Coachella, CA: 14.9 %Coachella, CA14.9Rio Vista, CA: 14.8 %Rio Vista, CA14.8Arcata, CA: 14.6 %Arcata, CA14.6Avenal, CA: 12.8 %Avenal, CA12.8Porterville, CA: 12.4 %Porterville, CA12.4Reedley, CA: 12.4 %Reedley, CA12.4El Centro, CA: 12.4 %El Centro, CA12.4Adelanto, CA: 12.1 %Adelanto, CA12.1Madera, CA: 11.9 %Madera, CA11.9Merced, CA: 11.9 %Merced, CA11.9Mendota, CA: 11.8 %Mendota, CA11.8Atwater, CA: 11.7 %Atwater, CA11.7Farmersville, CA: 11.5 %Farmersville, CA11.5Arvin, CA: 11.4 %Arvin, CA11.4Barstow, CA: 11.2 %Barstow, CA11.2Corcoran, CA: 11.1 %Corcoran, CA11.1Delano, CA: 11.1 %Delano, CA11.1Kerman, CA: 11 %Kerman, CA11Coalinga, CA: 11 %Coalinga, CA11Newman, CA: 11 %Newman, CA11Ceres, CA: 10.8 %Ceres, CA10.8Hemet, CA: 10.6 %Hemet, CA10.6Victorville, CA: 10.6 %Victorville, CA10.6Yucca Valley, CA: 10.2 %Yucca Valley, CA10.2Eureka, CA: 10.2 %Eureka, CA10.2Rancho Mirage, CA: 10.2 %Rancho Mirage, CA10.2Livingston, CA: 10.1 %Livingston, CA10.1Apple Valley, CA: 10.1 %Apple Valley, CA10.1Dinuba, CA: 10.1 %Dinuba, CA10.1Rialto, CA: 10.1 %Rialto, CA10.1Hesperia, CA: 10.1 %Hesperia, CA10.1Huntington Park, CA: 10 %Huntington Park, CA10Calabasas, CA: 9.9 %Calabasas, CA9.9Lemoore, CA: 9.9 %Lemoore, CA9.9Brawley, CA: 20.7 %Brawley, CA20.7Lindsay, CA: 20.5 %Lindsay, CA20.5California City, CA: 18 %California City, CA18Exeter, CA: 18 %Exeter, CA18Calexico, CA: 17.6 %Calexico, CA17.6Clearlake, CA: 16.9 %Clearlake, CA16.9Coachella, CA: 14.9 %Coachella, CA14.9Rio Vista, CA: 14.8 %Rio Vista, CA14.8Arcata, CA: 14.6 %Arcata, CA14.6Avenal, CA: 12.8 %Avenal, CA12.8Porterville, CA: 12.4 %Porterville, CA12.4Reedley, CA: 12.4 %Reedley, CA12.4El Centro, CA: 12.4 %El Centro, CA12.4Adelanto, CA: 12.1 %Adelanto, CA12.1Madera, CA: 11.9 %Madera, CA11.9Merced, CA: 11.9 %Merced, CA11.9Mendota, CA: 11.8 %Mendota, CA11.8Atwater, CA: 11.7 %Atwater, CA11.7Farmersville, CA: 11.5 %Farmersville, CA11.5Arvin, CA: 11.4 %Arvin, CA11.4Barstow, CA: 11.2 %Barstow, CA11.2Corcoran, CA: 11.1 %Corcoran, CA11.1Delano, CA: 11.1 %Delano, CA11.1Kerman, CA: 11 %Kerman, CA11Coalinga, CA: 11 %Coalinga, CA11Newman, CA: 11 %Newman, CA11Ceres, CA: 10.8 %Ceres, CA10.8Hemet, CA: 10.6 %Hemet, CA10.6Victorville, CA: 10.6 %Victorville, CA10.6Yucca Valley, CA: 10.2 %Yucca Valley, CA10.2Eureka, CA: 10.2 %Eureka, CA10.2Rancho Mirage, CA: 10.2 %Rancho Mirage, CA10.2Livingston, CA: 10.1 %Livingston, CA10.1Apple Valley, CA: 10.1 %Apple Valley, CA10.1Dinuba, CA: 10.1 %Dinuba, CA10.1Rialto, CA: 10.1 %Rialto, CA10.1Hesperia, CA: 10.1 %Hesperia, CA10.1Huntington Park, CA: 10 %Huntington Park, CA10Calabasas, CA: 9.9 %Calabasas, CA9.9Lemoore, CA: 9.9 %Lemoore, CA9.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2021 (%)
1Brawley, CA20.7
2Lindsay, CA20.5
3California City, CA18
4Exeter, CA18
5Calexico, CA17.6
6Clearlake, CA16.9
7Coachella, CA14.9
8Rio Vista, CA14.8
9Arcata, CA14.6
10Avenal, CA12.8
11Porterville, CA12.4
11Reedley, CA12.4
13El Centro, CA12.4
14Adelanto, CA12.1
15Madera, CA11.9
16Merced, CA11.9
17Mendota, CA11.8
18Atwater, CA11.7
19Farmersville, CA11.5
20Arvin, CA11.4
21Barstow, CA11.2
22Corcoran, CA11.1
23Delano, CA11.1
24Kerman, CA11
25Coalinga, CA11
26Newman, CA11
27Ceres, CA10.8
28Hemet, CA10.6
29Victorville, CA10.6
30Yucca Valley, CA10.2
31Eureka, CA10.2
32Rancho Mirage, CA10.2
33Livingston, CA10.1
34Apple Valley, CA10.1
35Dinuba, CA10.1
35Rialto, CA10.1
37Hesperia, CA10.1
38Huntington Park, CA10
39Calabasas, CA9.9
40Lemoore, CA9.9
41Morro Bay, CA9.8
42Desert Hot Springs, CA9.8
43Lodi, CA9.6
43Lynwood, CA9.6
45Chula Vista, CA9.5
46Los Banos, CA9.5
47Lathrop, CA9.5
48Wasco, CA9.5
49Red Bluff, CA9.4
50Oakdale, CA9.4
51Fresno, CA9.3
52Selma, CA9.1
53Grand Terrace, CA9.1
54Lompoc, CA9
55Oroville, CA8.9
56San Jacinto, CA8.8
57Artesia, CA8.8
58Antioch, CA8.8
59Indio, CA8.7
60El Cajon, CA8.7
60South Gate, CA8.7
60Ukiah, CA8.7
63Cudahy, CA8.6
64Palm Springs, CA8.4
64San Bernardino, CA8.4
66Hanford, CA8.4
67Tehachapi, CA8.4
68National City, CA8.4
69La Quinta, CA8.3
70Beverly Hills, CA8.3
71Turlock, CA8.3
72Compton, CA8.2
73Lemon Grove, CA8.1
74Watsonville, CA8.1
75Moreno Valley, CA8
76Stockton, CA8
77Hollister, CA8
77Modesto, CA8
79Twentynine Palms, CA8
80Blythe, CA8
81McFarland, CA8
82Westminster, CA7.9
83Shasta Lake, CA7.9
84West Hollywood, CA7.9
85Paradise, CA7.9
86Bellflower, CA7.8
87Glendale, CA7.8
88Inglewood, CA7.8
88Montclair, CA7.8
90Lawndale, CA7.7
91Stanton, CA7.7
92Chowchilla, CA7.7
93Hawthorne, CA7.7
94Palmdale, CA7.7
95Ridgecrest, CA7.6
96Los Angeles, CA7.6
97Imperial, CA7.6
98Galt, CA7.6
98Los Alamitos, CA7.6
100Bakersfield, CA7.5
101Banning, CA7.5
102Commerce, CA7.5
102Tulare, CA7.5
102Yuba City, CA7.5
105Vallejo, CA7.4
106Colton, CA7.4
107Loma Linda, CA7.3
108Lake Elsinore, CA7.3
109Rancho Cordova, CA7.3
110Lancaster, CA7.3
110Seaside, CA7.3
112La Puente, CA7.3
113La Verne, CA7.3
114Fullerton, CA7.3
114Menifee, CA7.3
114Murrieta, CA7.3
117Pittsburg, CA7.2
118Jurupa Valley, CA7.2
119Patterson, CA7.2
120Shafter, CA7.2
121Chico, CA7.2
121Perris, CA7.2
123Fortuna, CA7.1
124La Mesa, CA7.1
125El Monte, CA7.1
126Wildomar, CA7.1
127Carson, CA7.1
128Poway, CA7
129Santa Cruz, CA7
130Port Hueneme, CA7
131La Habra, CA7
132San Pablo, CA7
133Richmond, CA6.9
133Sacramento, CA6.9
135Riverbank, CA6.9
136Burbank, CA6.9
137Covina, CA6.9
137San Luis Obispo, CA6.9
137Yucaipa, CA6.9
140Santa Paula, CA6.9
141Long Beach, CA6.9
142Laguna Woods, CA6.8
143Citrus Heights, CA6.8
144San Gabriel, CA6.8
145Baldwin Park, CA6.8
146Imperial Beach, CA6.8
146Montebello, CA6.8
148Beaumont, CA6.8
149West Covina, CA6.6
150Santa Monica, CA6.6
151Bell, CA6.6
152Pomona, CA6.6
153Duarte, CA6.6
153Manteca, CA6.6
155Cathedral City, CA6.5
155Davis, CA6.5
155Oxnard, CA6.5
158Anderson, CA6.5
158Clovis, CA6.5
160Lafayette, CA6.4
161Sanger, CA6.4
162Brentwood, CA6.4
162Riverside, CA6.4
164Santa Maria, CA6.4
165Azusa, CA6.3
166Claremont, CA6.3
167Oakley, CA6.3
168Elk Grove, CA6.3
168Highland, CA6.3
170Suisun City, CA6.3
171Downey, CA6.3
171Fontana, CA6.3
171Marysville, CA6.3
174Oceanside, CA6.2
174Redlands, CA6.2
174San Diego, CA6.2
177Belmont, CA6.2
178Ontario, CA6.2
179Oakland, CA6.2
180Santee, CA6.2
181Carlsbad, CA6.1
181Marina, CA6.1
183Palm Desert, CA6.1
184Temecula, CA6.1
185Laguna Beach, CA6.1
186Culver City, CA6.1
187Carpinteria, CA6
188Monterey Park, CA6
189El Segundo, CA6
189Fairfield, CA6
191Cerritos, CA6
192Berkeley, CA5.9
192Glendora, CA5.9
194West Sacramento, CA5.9
195Chino Hills, CA5.8
196Redding, CA5.8
196Visalia, CA5.8
196Vista, CA5.8
199Norwalk, CA5.8
200Bell Gardens, CA5.8
201Garden Grove, CA5.8
202Healdsburg, CA5.7
202Laguna Niguel, CA5.7
204Upland, CA5.7
205Irvine, CA5.7
205Maywood, CA5.7
205Temple City, CA5.7
208Brea, CA5.7
208Lakewood, CA5.7
210Monrovia, CA5.7
210Rosemead, CA5.7
212Susanville, CA5.6
213San Leandro, CA5.6
214Hawaiian Gardens, CA5.6
214South El Monte, CA5.6
216San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA5.6
216Santa Clarita, CA5.6
218Anaheim, CA5.6
218Chino, CA5.6
220Kingsburg, CA5.6
220La Mirada, CA5.6
220Lake Forest, CA5.6
223Gilroy, CA5.6
224Arcadia, CA5.6
225Fountain Valley, CA5.5
226Huntington Beach, CA5.5
226Torrance, CA5.5
228Laguna Hills, CA5.5
229El Cerrito, CA5.5
230Pacific Grove, CA5.5
230Santa Rosa, CA5.5
232Tustin, CA5.5
233Buena Park, CA5.4
234Hayward, CA5.4
234Moorpark, CA5.4
236Novato, CA5.4
237San Fernando, CA5.4
238Santa Ana, CA5.3
239San Mateo, CA5.3
240Alhambra, CA5.3
241Salinas, CA5.3
241San Francisco, CA5.3
243Camarillo, CA5.2
243Los Gatos, CA5.2
243Moraga, CA5.2
246Pasadena, CA5.2
247Costa Mesa, CA5.2
247Gardena, CA5.2
249Napa, CA5.2
250Diamond Bar, CA5.2

Showing the top 250 of 376. The Excel download has every row.

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"unemployment_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"California","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Brawley, CA, with 20.7% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Greenfield, CA, with 1.6% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in California: more rankings