RANK #946 / 1001 NAT · #35 / 43 CA · POP 220,564
1YR FORECAST: -2.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
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.
Yolo County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.5% runs below the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 15.7x — 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: 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 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Yolo County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #946 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.6% and median household income of $91,752 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Affordability is a real challenge in Yolo County. The median home is valued at $620,700 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.15, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $1,857/month.
Yolo County's population is growing — up +1.3% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.6%). Home values shifted -1.5% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 8.08% 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.