Davis
RANK #743 / 996 NAT · #17 / 43 CA · POP 217,141
1YR FORECAST: +0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Yolo County, California, is known for its agricultural landscape and the vibrant university town of Davis. Located directly west of Sacramento, the county offers a blend of rural charm and urban accessibility. Commute options include Yolobus, which provides service throughout Yolo County and to downtown Sacramento, and Amtrak, with daily stops in Davis. The county boasts extensive outdoor recreation, including the 16,600-acre Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, a haven for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. Residents can also enjoy hiking trails along Putah Creek and Cache Creek, kayaking at Lake Solano, and exploring wildflower displays in the spring.
Life in Yolo County combines agricultural roots with a focus on education and innovation, largely influenced by the University of California, Davis, a major employer and a center for agriculture and biotechnology research. The economy is driven by its diverse agricultural industry, including leading crops like tomatoes, wine grapes, and almonds, alongside a growing biotechnology sector and food processing. The county also sees development in warehousing and distribution, with companies like FedEx and major retail distribution centers operating in the area. Public schools in districts like Davis Joint Unified are rated above average.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.6x — 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Rural Community Investment Program Infrastructure Projects
Yolo County
|
$50M | Planned |
|
New Residential Construction (Multiple Communities)
Various (e.g., DeNova Homes, Lennar, Seeno Homes)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 25/100, Yolo County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $85,097 combined with job growth of +1.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Yolo County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $555,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.15 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,655/month on average.
Employers in Yolo County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.2% YoY). Home values moved -1.7% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 7.74% of Yolo County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.