stockton
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Stockton is highly diverse and vibrant and probably this is a major factor that allures people from different parts of the country. The city is mostly in the news for bad reasons including crime but let’s assure you that things are not as bad in Stockton as gossip portrays.

The most populous city in San Joaquin County is home to The Golden State’s Delta, where the San Joaquin River estuary and the American River feed and nourish the surrounding farmlands. And if you are seriously considering the city in California as your new moving destination, it is good to know about Stockton in detail.

Fortunately, our moving experts have researched the city in and out and have got all the relevant information you need to know.

Let’s take a tour through our Stockton moving guide that covers every factor about the city including taxes, jobs, salary, cost of living, transport, healthcare, education, safety, and entertainment.

We guarantee accurate and recent information at your fingertips.

QuickFacts

Quick Facts of Stockton, CA

Learn some facts about Stockton, CA before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

Quick facts to know before you move to Stockton

  • 35 miles north of Modesto and due east of San Francisco Bay
  • The city is named after Robert F. Stockton.
  • Stockton is known for being home to the oldest university in California, the University of The Pacific.
  • The city was incorporated on July 23rd, 1850.
  • Stockton is the “farmland of California’s San Joaquin Valley.”
  • The crime rate is much higher in Stockton.
  • The weather is always pleasant.
  • Affordability is a major factor in Stockton.
  • Summers are extremely hot and humid here.
  • The city’s economy is highly based on poultry, manufacturing, and tourism.

Top 10 things to know before moving to Stockton

  • The demographics are highly diverse.
  • The public transport system is too poor.
  • The crime rate in Stockton is 115% higher than the national average.
  • The demographics are highly diverse.
  • Stockton weather is magical.
  • The city is an entertainment center.
  • The cost of living is affordable.
  • Infrastructure is immensely stronger here.
  • Jobs are plentiful.
  • The art scene is impressive in Stockton.

Is Stockton, CA a good place to live?

Stockton boasts of a welcoming community. The demographics are diverse and the city also has a pleasant climate year-round. It also has plenty of open places to engage in outdoor activities on weekends.

Is Stockton affordable to live in?

The cost of living in Stockton is slightly higher than the US average. Here, the cost of living is 124.7, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 24.7% higher than the U.S. average and 16.8% higher than the average for California.

What's the population of Stockton, CA?

As of 2020, Stockton’s population is 317,818, which means 5,069 people per square mile. The density is one of the largest in California State. The population is highly diverse and the median age is 38.4. The number of people per household in Stockton is 3.2.

How fast can you commute to Stockton, CA?

The city’s population is one of the highest in California and this leads to heavy traffic on roads, especially at peak hours. As a result, you’ll spend more time on Stockton roads than your current location. Here, you spend just 29.0 minutes on the road which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.

What is the weather like in Stockton, CA?

The city has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. In summer, temperatures generally stay in the upper 70s to mid-90s, while winter temperatures average around 50 degrees. It does not snow in Stockton and has low humidity levels year around. July is the hottest month and January is the coldest.

  • The city receives about 17 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.
  • Stockton averages 0 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.
  • On average, the city gets about 257 sunny days per year against the US average of 205 sunny days.
  • The city receives some kind of precipitation, on average, 60 days per year in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Reasons

Top 10 Reasons To Move To Stockton, CA

The next are a few reasons that make Stockton a major moving destination. Our experts researched to point out 7 positives of the Californian city that make it a hot-moving location.

  • Job opportunities
  • Racial diversity
  • Mild weather
  • Community feeling
  • More open spaces
  • Art heaven
  • Hi-tech infrastructure
pros and cons

Pros & Cons of Moving to Stockton

Before you make up your mind to pack the bags to Stockton, it is vital to analyze both the pros and cons of moving here. To help you, we’ve got the best and worst of the city. Cross-check both before you take the final call.

Here are the pros and cons of living in Stockton, CA:

The pros
  • Diverse population
  • Plenty of parks
  • Good weather
  • Booming economy
  • Good education
The cons
  • No snow
  • Extreme summer
  • Heavy traffic on the road
  • High crime rate
  • High taxes
  • Expensive property
  • Poor air quality
Neighborhoods

Best neighborhoods near Stockton

 

The first thing you will require in Stockton will be a house on rent and the surroundings are also crucial especially for those who have a family. And you are lucky that there are many decent neighborhoods in Stockton. We’ve filtered out the best neighborhoods in Stockton and around.

 

Here are the 10 best neighborhoods in Stockton and around to rent or buy a house.

Rank Neighborhood Home Rental Home Value
1 Downtown Stockton $1,130 $341,520
2 Brookside $1,806 $510,000
3 Pacific $1,313 $370,000
4 Spanos Park $1,313 $536,000
5 Seaport $1,539 $435,000
6 Valley Oak $2,042 $400,000
7 Lincoln Village West $1,806 $384,950
8 Morada $1,590 $652,600
9 Woodbridge $1,406 $576,000
10 Lathrop $2,164 $542,900

Cost of living in Stockton

Compared to some big cities in California, Stockton is affordable to raise a family. However, in comparison to your current location, the expenses may look much higher. As per the records, the cost of living in the Californian city is 24.7% higher than the US average but 16.8% lower than the California average. The city is growing with a strong economy and this will also lead to higher salaries here.

Here is a break-up of the cost of living in Stockton.

Living Expense Stockton California National Average
Overall 124.7 149.9 100
Grocery 103.9 105.1 100
Health 100.7 98.3 100
Housing 133.7 234.8 100
Median Home Cost $426,500 $733,500 $291,700
Utilities 108.9 102.4 100
Transportation 115.5 133.1 100
Miscellaneous 111.5 118.7 100

Job Market in Stockton, CA

Stockton’s economy is growing and this contributes to plenty of jobs. The city is an attractive place for job seekers and if you too fall into the group, you will have reasons to smile here. The most popular industries include telecommunication, manufacturing, healthcare, public administration, and education. Historically agriculture also plays a significant role in the economy.

Job-related Facts in Stockton

  • The job growth in Stockton has been positive.
  • The future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 23.14%.
  • The unemployment rate here is 10.3%.
  • Jobs have increased by 2.2% over the past year.
  • The average salary in Stockton is $63,196.
  • The median home cost in Stockton is $426,500.

Breakdown of Stockton Job Market

Employment Information Stockton United States
Income per Cap $26,403 $37,638
Household Income $63,916 $69,021
Unemployment Rate 10.3 6
Recent Job Growth -4.1% -6.2%
Future Job Growth 33.6% 33.5%

Fastest Growing Jobs in Stockton, CA

Stockton’s job market is growing and this trend is expected to continue for a few more years. If you are in search of a job, Stockton is a good choice, and having a list of fast-growing companies is a decent idea. Knowing this, we’ve got a list of the 10 fastest-growing jobs in Stockton.

Rank Job title Growth rate Average salary
1 Web developer 161.3% $89,930
2 Pipe insulator 158.2% $59,660
3 Operations analyst 153.6% $98,808
4 Biomedical engineer 151.3% $109,979
5 Physician assistant 147.2% $117,455
6 Physical therapy aide 142.1% $35,219
7 Forensic scientist 140.3% $92,701
8 Veterinary technician 138.6% $46,694
9 Crew member 137.2% $29,260
10 Electrician 136.5% $77,107
11 Marketing internship 134.2% $89,130

Highest Paying Jobs in Stockton, CA

While you search for a job in Stockton after relocating here, the paycheck will be a vital factor. We know this and have got our team to research and find the best-paid jobs in the city. When you have a list of highest-paid jobs, it becomes easier to filter down the jobs to apply for.

Rank Job title Average salary Entry level salary
1 Dermatologist $291,852 $150,000
2 Hospitalist physician $278,660 $198,000
3 Psychiatrists $273,829 $155,000
4 Staff psychiatrists $272,638 $170,000
5 Orthodontist $246,136 $143,000
6 Primary care physician $224,960 $127,000
7 Nephrologists $224,683 $132,000
8 Family medicine physician $222,940 $132,000
9 Obstetrician/Gynecologist $222,890 $131,000
10 Internal medicine physician $220,140 $131,000

Major Industries in Stockton, CA

  • Manufacturing
  • Agriculture
  • Public administration
  • Education
  • Healthcare

Best Companies to Work for in Stockton, CA

  • Super Store Industries, Inc.
  • Diamond Nuts
  • The Herrick
  • Grupe Real Estate
  • A G Spanos Companies
  • Meadowood
  • Coastal Pacific Food Distributors
  • Duraflame
  • Professional Holding
  • OHI

Average Salary & Income in Stockton, CA

When you are relocating to Stockton for reasons, especially with the family, the knowledge about salary is vital. As Stockton has a strong economy with a booming business culture, the jobs are plenty with a handful salary. As per the statistics, the average salary in Stockton is $63,916 and anything above $58,000 is a good salary here.

  • Stockton’s average annual pay for average jobs is $63,916 a year
  • Stockton’s average hourly pay for average jobs is $23.73 an hour
  • Stockton’s average weekly pay for average jobs is $1,011 per week
  • Stockton’s average monthly pay for average jobs is $4,120 per month
  • Stockton’s top earners (90th percentile) make $101,020 annually

Housing Market in Stockton, CA

Latest City Housing Facts

  • Stockton’s median home cost is $426,500.
  • The median age of Stockton’s real estate is 40 years old.
  • The city’s home appreciation in the last 10 years has been 196.3%.
  • Renters make up 45.7% of the Stockton population.
  • About 2.2% of houses and apartments in Stockton are available to rent.

Average Rental Prices in Stockton, CA

Your initial days in Stockton will be in rented homes and this makes home rentals crucial. You can find an average home in the city for a pocket-friendly rental. Here are the average home rental prices in Stockton:

  • Studio: $1,020
  • 1 Bedroom: $1,130
  • 2 Bedrooms: $1,480
  • 3 Bedrooms: $2,100
  • 4 Bedrooms: $2,520

Taxes in Stockton, CA

Your take-home salary is greatly based on the tax the state levies on you. And it is the same in Stockton as well. The more California levies tax, the lower your take-home money, and this also means you need to earn more. And knowing the tax structure in Stockton is a good idea.

  • The sales tax rate for Stockton is 8.9%. The US average is 7.3%.
  • The income tax rate for Stockton is 9.3%. The US average is 4.6%.
  • The average property tax rate in Stockton is 0.74%.

Best Things to Do in Stockton, CA

 

Living in Stockton is not just about business but it is also about entertainment. There’s no shortage of fun activities here, both indoor and outdoor. Once you move here, be ready to explore the unlimited fun that will keep your holidays and weekends occupied. 

We’ve got a list of the 10 best things to do in Stockton.

  • Stroll along the Stockton Marina
  • Shop at Miracle Mile
  • Relax in University Park World Peace Rose Garden
  • Get fresh produce at the Fruit Bowl
  • Catch a game at Stockton Arena
  • Spend an afternoon at Pixie Woods Amusement Park
  • Join the Annual Cambodian New Year’s Celebration
  • Marvel at the colorful Stockton Chinese New Year’s Parade
  • Catch a show at the historic Bob Hope Theatre
  • Take the little ones to the Children’s Museum of Stockton

How Safe is Stockton, CA?

One of the major negatives of Stockton is the crime rate. The city records a violent crime rate almost three times higher than the national average. The reason is that the city records much lower crimes than the national average. Even the property crime rate is almost one and a half times higher than the US average. Only about 40% of the residents feel that the city is pretty safe to live in.

To help you know the crime stats in Stockton, we’ve got a few facts.

  • The violent crime rate in Stockton is 65.5 while the US average is 22.7.
  • The city’s property crime is 59.2 while the US average is 35.4.
  • Your chance of being a violent crime victim here is 1 in 85.
  • Your chance of being a property crime victim is 1 in 34 in Stockton.
  • About 40% of the city population feels safe in the city. 
School

What Are the Top Schools in Stockton, CA?

Stockton ranks high in education and the city is home to some of the best schools in California. Hence, when you move here with a family, you will easily find a school for your child just near the home.  To help you, we’ve prepared a list of top educational institutions with their rankings. 

Contact Info

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