RANK #576 / 1001 NAT · #23 / 43 CA · POP 1,016,725
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Known as the "Raisin Capital of the World," Fresno County, California, is where nearly all of the nation's raisins are grown and sun-dried. Located in the Central Valley, Fresno is about a two-hour drive from San Francisco and three hours from Sacramento. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and small-town charm. The county is a gateway to the Sierra Nevada mountains and three national parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia, all within a 90-minute drive. Residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation such as paddling on Millerton or Shaver Lake, white water rafting on the Kings River, or hiking numerous trails.
Life in Fresno County offers affordability compared to other parts of California. The region is a major agricultural center, producing a wide variety of crops, and this industry forms the backbone of the local economy. While agriculture provides many jobs, employment can be seasonal. Recent economic developments include significant investment in renewable energy sectors, with projects focused on solar power and battery storage. These initiatives aim to repurpose agricultural land and create new job opportunities.
Fresno County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.2% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 15.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Fresno County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Darden Clean Energy Project
IP Darden I, LLC (subsidiary of Intersect Power)
|
$2,500M | Under Construction |
|
Key Energy Storage
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Cornucopia Hybrid Project
BayWa r.e. Americas
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
South Lake Solar and Energy Storage Project
South Lake Solar, LLC
|
$180M | Proposed |
|
Southeast Development Area (SEDA) Specific Plan
City of Fresno
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Copper River Ranch (Expansion Phases)
Unknown
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Fresno County scores 42/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#576). Median household income is $74,201 and job growth is running at +0.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Fresno County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $388,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,392/month on average.
Population and employment in Fresno County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs +0.4%. Home values shifted +1.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.41% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Fresno County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.