Ranked by USDA Amenity Score

Best Counties for Natural Amenities

Counties with the best climate, terrain, and water features — where natural beauty meets economic opportunity.

# County BTI Score Amenity Proj. Growth HV Ratio Pop Growth
01 Ventura County CA 7 11.2 -2.0% 11.0x -0.4%
02 Humboldt County CA 3 11.2 -3.6% 9.0x -0.6%
03 Santa Barbara County CA 11 11.0 -1.4% 9.5x -0.5%
04 Mendocino County CA 10 10.9 -1.6% 11.8x -0.4%
05 San Francisco County CA 63 10.5 +1.3% 4.9x -1.7%
06 Los Angeles County CA 21 10.3 -0.5% 9.0x -0.8%
07 San Diego County CA 16 9.8 -0.9% 8.9x -0.2%
08 Monterey County CA 18 9.2 -0.7% 10.1x -0.3%
09 Orange County CA 43 8.7 +0.5% 9.9x -0.2%
10 Santa Cruz County CA 21 8.5 -0.5% 15.3x -1.3%
11 Contra Costa County CA 19 8.4 -0.6% 11.9x +0.1%
12 San Mateo County CA 7 8.2 -2.3% 5.5x -1.1%
13 Marin County CA 57 8.1 +0.9% 11.3x -0.7%
14 Sonoma County CA 30 7.9 +0.0% 11.8x -0.8%
15 San Luis Obispo County CA 36 7.9 +0.3% 10.8x -0.4%
16 Napa County CA 5 7.5 -2.6% 9.6x -1.0%
17 Gila County AZ 43 7.5 +0.5% 6.5x +0.4%
18 Carson City NV 43 7.3 +0.5% 5.5x +0.5%
19 Nevada County CA 11 7.3 -1.5% 11.9x +0.2%
20 Stanislaus County CA 31 7.2 +0.1% 8.8x +0.2%
21 Cochise County AZ 23 7.1 -0.3% 4.4x +0.3%
22 Tuolumne County CA 15 7.1 -1.0% 8.1x -0.5%
23 Douglas County OR 39 6.8 +0.4% 7.3x +0.6%
24 Washoe County NV 24 6.8 -0.3% 6.6x +1.4%
25 Riverside County CA 20 6.6 -0.5% 11.0x +0.8%
26 Lake County CA 4 6.5 -3.2% 9.5x +0.4%
27 Clallam County WA 18 6.5 -0.7% 9.3x +0.8%
28 Imperial County CA 91 6.5 +3.0% 4.6x -0.3%
29 El Dorado County CA 30 6.1 +0.0% 12.7x +0.6%
30 Deschutes County OR 13 6.1 -1.3% 8.0x +2.2%
31 Lincoln County OR 30 6.1 +0.0% 8.2x +0.9%
32 Monroe County FL 2 6.0 -4.3% 8.9x -0.2%
33 Fresno County CA 36 6.0 +0.2% 6.8x +0.5%
34 Madera County CA 32 6.0 +0.1% 7.9x +0.6%
35 Placer County CA 20 6.0 -0.6% 9.5x +1.6%
36 Santa Clara County CA 47 6.0 +0.6% 6.3x -0.8%
37 Solano County CA 14 5.9 -1.1% 8.3x -0.1%
38 Mohave County AZ 18 5.8 -0.7% 6.9x +1.4%
39 La Plata County CO 35 5.8 +0.2% 8.5x +0.6%
40 Boulder County CO 6 5.8 -2.3% 6.6x -0.0%
41 Lyon County NV 16 5.7 -0.9% 10.6x +2.4%
42 Shasta County CA 31 5.7 +0.1% 6.5x -0.1%
43 Tulare County CA 33 5.7 +0.1% 6.8x +0.5%
44 Larimer County CO 13 5.6 -1.3% 7.8x +1.3%
45 Jefferson County CO 5 5.6 -2.5% 8.7x +0.1%
46 Davis County UT 38 5.5 +0.3% 8.5x +1.2%
47 Coos County OR 41 5.5 +0.4% 7.1x +0.5%
48 Martin County FL 8 5.3 -1.8% 6.0x +0.7%
49 Whatcom County WA 52 5.3 +0.8% 6.9x +0.9%
50 Lee County FL 1 5.2 -5.4% 5.4x +2.8%

More Rankings

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