Discover the Top 10 Richest Counties in all of California

If California had to become an independent country today, it would have the fifth-largest economy in the world. The Golden State is the most productive state in the U.S., thanks to Hollywood, Silicon Valley, agriculture, and tourism. For example, the state’s GDP in 2022 was $3.6 trillion, making up 14.3% of the United State’s total economy. Based on those results, the Golden State was more productive than the United Kingdom and India. But, not every county in the state is wealthy. Here are the top 10 richest counties in all of California.

The Top 10 Richest Counties in all of California

1. San Mateo County

San Mateo County is the richest county in California, with a median income of $136,837 and an overall wealth index of 100.00. This county was established in April 1856 from a portion of San Francisco County. Currently, there are over 760,000 people living in San Mateo County, which runs along the boundary of Silicon Valley. Industries that thrive in this county are:

• Computer Software
• Bioscience
• Green technology
• Financial management
• Hospitality
• Health care
• Education
• Transport
• Agriculture

2. San Francisco County

San Francisco County is situated in Northern California on the San Francisco Peninsula. The county is located just north of Silicon Valley and consists of many notable companies like X, Wells Fargo, Twitch, Lyft, Uber, and Slack. San Francisco County has a population of around 800,000 and a population density of 17,237 individuals per square mile. With a median income of $126,187 and an overall wealth index of 96.91, San Francisco County is the second-richest county in California.

3. Santa Clara County

Santa Clara and San Mateo County are the two counties that make up Silicon Valley. This county is situated in the southern San Francisco Bay Area. Santa Clara consists of many powerful high-tech companies, like Google, Apple, Intel, eBay, and Yahoo. The largest city in the county is San Jose, with a population of around 900,000 people. Santa Clara residents have a median income of  $140,258, with an overall wealth index of 93.54.

4. Marin County

Marin County is situated in the North San Francisco Bay Area. As of 2021, its population was around 260,206 people. This county is located right across the Golden Gate Bridge and is well known for its natural beauty. The median income for this county is $131,008, with an overall wealth index of 91.68. Many industries contribute to Marin County’s economy, but the biggest employers are:

• Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc
• California Alpine Club
• Glassdoor Inc
• Macy’s
• Marin Independent Journal
• Nordstrom

5. Alameda County

Alameda County is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It sits between the eastern San Francisco Bay and San Joaquin Valley. Furthermore, it extends from south Contra Costa County to the southern area of the Bay. Alameda County has an estimated population of 1.649 million people as of 2021. It is the fifth-richest country in California, with a median income of $112,017 and an overall wealth index of 72.07. The biggest employers in the county include:

• Alta Bates Summit Med Ctr Lab
• California State Univ East Bay
• Cooper Vision Inc
• Dell EMC
• Valley Care Health System
• University of CA Berkeley
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

6. Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County’s population was around 267,792 in 2021, with a median income of $96,093 and an overall wealth index of 67.70, making it the sixth richest county in California. It sits on the Pacific coast at the northern end of Monterey Bay, around 65 miles from San Francisco. In 2021, the county’s population was estimated at 267,792 residents. It is the sixth-richest county in California, with a median income of $96,093 and an overall wealth index of 67.70. The major employers in Santa Cruze County include:

• Creekside Farms Inc
• First Alarm
• Granite Construction Co
• Larse Farms Inc
• Monterey Mushrooms Inc
• Safeway
• Source Naturals
• West Marine Inc

7. Orange County

Orange County is the southernmost county in the Golden State and remains the preferred beach destination for many vacations. As a result, the area relies heavily on tourism to keep its economy going. Orange County had an estimated population of around 3.1 million people in 2021, with a median income of $100,485 and an overall wealth index of 61.54. The county’s major employers include:

• The Walt Disney Company
• The University of California Irvine
• Providence
• Bank of America
• Boeing

8. Contra Costa County

This beautiful county is located in the northern part of the East Bay area in Northern California. In 2021, Contra Costa County had a population of about 1.1 million people, with a median income of $110,455 and an overall wealth index of 58.66. The county’s major employers include:

• Bart
• Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc
• Broadspectrum Americas
• C & H Sugar
• Chevron Corp
• Crash Champions Collision
• La Raza Market

9. Napa County

If you like wine, you must visit Napa County, which is in Northern California’s wine country region. Napa County had an estimated population of 136,207 in 2021, with a median income of $97,498 and an overall wealth index of 57.46. The area contributes to the Golden State’s economy through tourism, as millions flock to Napa County each year for a relaxing break with lots of wine. The county’s major employers include:

• Allied Universal
• Auberge Du Soleil
• Domaine Chandon
• Duckhorn Portfolio Inc
• Four Seasons Resort-Residences
• Meritage Resort & Spa
• Sutter Home Winery
• Trinchero Family Estates
• Walmart Supercenter

10. Sonoma County

Sonoma County is situated about 45 minutes north of San Francisco in the North Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. It has a population of around 480,000 people, with a median income of $91,607 and an overall wealth index of 55.58, making it one of the richest counties in California. Major employers in the county include:

• Aabalat Fine & Rare Wines
• Amy’s Kitchen Inc
• Clover Sonoma
• Fairmont Sonoma Msn Inn & Spa
• Freeman Toyota
• Macy’s
• Walmart

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