RANK #358 / 1001 NAT · #15 / 43 CA · POP 478,693
1YR FORECAST: +1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Tulare County, California, stands out for its direct access to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, home to some of the world's largest trees and the highest peak in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. Located in the southern San Joaquin Valley, east of Visalia, the county offers a blend of agricultural landscapes and mountain scenery. Commutes within the county are generally manageable, with local and commuter bus services connecting its communities. Residents enjoy a mild climate and abundant outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, boating, and skiing in areas like Lake Kaweah and the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Life in Tulare County offers a small-town feel with access to amenities. The county is a significant agricultural producer, particularly known for dairy, citrus, and other crops, which shapes much of its economy. Recent economic developments show investment in infrastructure and a focus on expanding opportunities for local businesses in towns like Visalia, Tulare, and Porterville. The region is also seeing growth in sectors such as healthcare, leisure and hospitality, and transportation and warehousing. Educational opportunities include various K-12 school districts and community colleges.
Tulare 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 +1.7% 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 16.5x — 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 Tulare County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Rexford Solar Farm (Phases 1 & 2)
AES Corporation / 8 Minute
|
$1,200M | Operating/Approved |
|
Interstate 99 Widening
Caltrans
|
$550M | Under Construction |
|
Bottleneck Energy Storage
VESI 12 LLC
|
$80M | Operating |
|
Vistra Energy Solar and Battery Storage (Terra Bella)
Vistra Energy
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Agri-Center Overpass
Caltrans
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Tulare County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $71,300 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in CA.
Tulare County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $330,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,280/month on average.
Tulare County is attracting residents (population +0.6% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -1.7%. Housing values changed +1.7% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
Not particularly — 1.8% of Tulare County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.