Here’s a list of cities in California with a population of at least 50,000 and unemployment rates of 6.5% or lower (the national average is now 9.2%). I’ve even included the average monthly rent for apartments in each city:
San Ramon, CA – population: 72,148, unemployment: 4.6%, average rent: $1,594
About 25 miles east of Oakland, San Ramon is known as Tree City USA. Top 3 employers are Chevron, AT&T, and Robert Half International.
Pleasanton, CA – population: 70,285, unemployment: 5.4%, average rent: $1,600
About 30 miles southeast of Oakland, Pleasanton is the one of the wealthiest mid-size cities in the nation. Top 3 employers are Kaiser Permanente, Safeway, and Oracle.
Folsom, CA – population: 72,203, unemployment: 5.8%, average rent: $1,287
Just under 25 miles northeast of Sacramento, the city is known for having several prisons, including the maximum-security Folsom State Prison. Top 3 employers are Intel, California State Prison (Sacramento), and Verizon.
Yorba Linda, CA – population: 64,234, unemployment: 5.9%, average rent: $1,785
A little over 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Yorba Linda is the birthplace of Richard Nixon and home to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Top 3 employers are CareFusion, Nobel Biocare, and Costco.
Lake Forest, CA – population: 77,264, unemployment: 6.2%, average rent: $1,668
Just over 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles, the city has two beautiful artificial lakes. Top 3 employers are Western Digital, Apria Healthcare, and Beech Street.
Glendora, CA – population: 50,073, unemployment: 6.4%, average rent: $1,288
Nearly 30 miles east of Los Angeles, Glendora is upscale with a high-ranking school district and low crime rates. Top 3 employers are Glendora Unified School District, Citrus College, and the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services.
Mission Viejo, CA – population: 93,305, unemployment: 6.5%, average rent: $1,650
About 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Mission Viejo is the second-largest master-planned community ever built under a single project in the United States. Top 3 employers are Saddleback College, Mission Hospital, and Unisis.
When you’re looking for California apartments in places with a secure job market, expect to pay a little more in rent, but also know that with such strong local economies, it’s probably worth the financial stretch.
Data source: Unemployment statistics from Bureau of Labor Statistics (Feb, 2011 – pending).
How about you? Any luck finding apartments? California is a great place to look. Comment below.
*** If you’d like some help finding an apartment in California, I’ve got a whole staff of people standing by to help you for free. Call one of our apartment experts at 877-676-1767.
Or, click here: https://www.aptscalifornia.com/discover-california-apartments
[Image credit: meesterdickey]