California’s Lowest-Earning Counties

Income inequality is more pronounced in California than in most other states. Disparities don’t just exist between households. The state’s counties vary tremendously on economic measures, with the median family earning over $133,000 in a county like Santa Clara compared to $41,780 in the lowest-earning county, Trinity. Notably, cost of living varies widely between these counties as well. 

Stacker has compiled a list of California’s lowest-earning counties based on U.S. Census Data. Most of them are located in the northwest and Central Valley.

The Lowest-Earning Counties in California

#25. Kings County

Median household income: $61,556
21.8% below state average, 5.3% below national average

#24. Tuolumne County

Median household income: $60,509
23.1% below state average, 6.9% below national average

#23. Colusa County

Median household income: $59,427
24.5% below state average, 8.6% below national average

#22. Yuba County

Median household income: $59,424
24.5% below state average, 8.6% below national average

#21. Inyo County

Median household income: $59,296
24.6% below state average, 8.8% below national average

#20. Plumas County

Median household income: $57,233
27.3% below state average, 11.9% below national average

#19. Shasta County

Median household income: $57,139
27.4% below state average, 12.1% below national average

#18. Fresno County

Median household income: $57,109
27.4% below state average, 12.1% below national average

#17. Lassen County

Median household income: $56,971
27.6% below state average, 12.3% below national average

#16. Merced County

Median household income: $56,330
28.4% below state average, 13.3% below national average

#15. Butte County

Median household income: $54,972
30.1% below state average, 15.4% below national average

#14. Kern County

Median household income: $54,851
30.3% below state average, 15.6% below national average

#13. Mendocino County

Median household income: $52,915
32.7% below state average, 18.6% below national average

#12. Tulare County

Median household income: $52,534
33.2% below state average, 19.2% below national average

#11. Sierra County

Median household income: $52,103
33.8% below state average, 19.8% below national average

#10. Glenn County

Median household income: $51,682
34.3% below state average, 20.5% below national average

#9. Modoc County

Median household income: $51,250
34.9% below state average, 21.1% below national average

#8. Mariposa County

Median household income: $50,960
35.2% below state average, 21.6% below national average

#7. Del Norte County

Median household income: $49,981
36.5% below state average, 23.1% below national average

#6. Lake County

Median household income: $49,254
37.4% below state average, 24.2% below national average

#5. Humboldt County

Median household income: $49,235
37.4% below state average, 24.2% below national average

#4. Tehama County

Median household income: $48,895
37.8% below state average, 24.8% below national average

#3. Siskiyou County

Median household income: $47,403
39.7% below state average, 27.1% below national average

#2. Imperial County

Median household income: $46,222
41.2% below state average, 28.9% below national average

#1. Trinity County

Median household income: $41,780
46.9% below state average, 35.7% below national average

See a full list here.

List was compiled by Stacker and does not necessarily reflect data for all California counties.