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California city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Fresno?

What it costs to live in Fresno, and how it compares with other California cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

280th best value in California

How much you get for what you pay, versus other California cities.

Overall livability

31

359th overall in California

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Fresno is home to about 538,678 people. A typical home runs $273,900 and a household earns around $57,200, a price-to-income ratio of 4.8. Among California's largest cities, it ranks 280th for value and 359th overall.

Fresno at a glance

Median home price

$273,900

72nd in CA of 406

Median rent

$1,115/mo

Median household income

$57,200

Home price to income

4.8x

Unemployment

9.3%

355th in CA of 406

School rating

4/10

347th in CA of 406

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CA of 406

Walk score

67/100

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‹ See all top California cities ranked  ยท  California state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within California only. Updated 2026.