Honestly, if you've been watching the news lately, you’d think California was a ghost town in the making. People love to talk about the "exodus." They point to U-Haul prices and high taxes. But when you actually look at the california city population list, the reality is way more complicated than just a mass getaway.
California is huge. It’s almost impossible to generalize.
As of early 2026, the state is hovering around 39.5 million people. That’s basically the same population as Canada, packed into one (admittedly very long) state. We saw some weird dips during the pandemic, but the latest data from the California Department of Finance shows a slight, almost stubborn, uptick.
It’s not a boom. It’s a shift.
The Big Heavyweights: Where Everyone Actually Lives
If we’re talking raw numbers, the heavy hitters haven't changed much, but their vibes certainly have. Los Angeles is still the undisputed king, though it's been feeling the squeeze.
Los Angeles remains at the top with roughly 3.8 million residents. Interestingly, LA County actually saw a bit of a dip recently—down about 0.29%—partly because of those nasty wildfires like the Palisades and Eaton fires that pushed people out of their homes.
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Then you have San Diego. It’s sitting pretty at 1.4 million. People seem to stick around there for the weather, obviously, but also because the job market has stayed a bit more resilient than in the far north.
The Top 10 Lineup (Roughly)
- Los Angeles: 3,878,704
- San Diego: 1,404,452
- San Jose: 997,368 (Teetering on that million-mark)
- San Francisco: 827,526
- Fresno: 550,105
- Sacramento: 535,798
- Long Beach: 450,901
- Oakland: 443,554
- Bakersfield: 417,468
- Anaheim: 344,561
You’ll notice San Jose is right on the edge of being a "millionaire" city again. It’s been bouncing back and forth. Silicon Valley is expensive—kinda like, "selling a kidney for a studio apartment" expensive—but the tech draw is still a real thing.
The Surprising Inland Boom
Here is where the california city population list gets actually interesting. While the coastal elites are complaining about rent, the Central Valley and the Inland Empire are quietly exploding.
Cities like Fresno and Bakersfield are no longer just "places you drive through on the 99." Fresno grew by nearly 1% in the last year alone. Why? Because you can actually buy a house there without being a billionaire. Sorta.
Roseville and Rocklin up near Sacramento are also seeing massive influxes. It’s the "Zoom Town" effect. If you only have to go into an office in San Francisco once a week, living in the foothills of the Sierras starts to look pretty good.
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Expert Note: The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) points out that while coastal counties still hold 62% of the population, the growth rate in inland counties is nearly triple that of the coast.
Why the Numbers Are Wobbly
You’ve gotta look at the "Natural Increase." That’s just a fancy way of saying births minus deaths.
California’s birth rate is actually at a record low. People are having fewer kids, or waiting longer. At the same time, the population is aging. By 2030, experts at the Department of Finance expect people over 65 to outnumber children in the state for the first time ever.
International migration used to be the engine. It's slowed down. Policy changes and global shifts mean we aren't seeing the same influx from overseas that we did in the 90s.
The "California City" Confusion
Just a heads up: there is actually a place called California City in Kern County. It’s a wild story. It was designed to be this massive rival to LA, but it never really happened.
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Currently, its population is around 13,174. It’s actually shrinking—down about 4% annually. Don't confuse the specific city with the state's overall stats, or you'll end up very confused about why "California City" is failing while California state is holding steady.
What This Means for You
If you're looking at the california city population list because you're planning a move or investing in property, keep your eyes on the "Second Tier" cities.
- Look Inland: Places like Visalia, Clovis, and Menifee are where the actual growth is happening.
- Watch the Fire Zones: Insurance is becoming a nightmare in places like the Santa Cruz mountains or parts of LA. Population shifts are following the insurance maps.
- Tech is Decentralizing: San Jose is still the hub, but the "Silicon Valley" footprint now reaches all the way to Sacramento and even Reno, Nevada.
The "death" of California is a myth, but the "transformation" of California is very real. The state is becoming older, more inland-focused, and definitely more expensive. If you're looking for where the crowd is going, stop looking at the beach and start looking at the valley.
Next Steps for Research:
Check the local county assessor's office for the specific city you're eyeing. Population growth is a great indicator, but "housing starts" (new construction permits) will tell you if the city is actually prepared for the people moving in. Also, look at the California Department of Finance E-1 reports if you want the absolute latest raw data before the big news outlets summarize it.