Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Fresno, CA

    Is Fresno a good place to live?

    Watch Fresno

    Fresno ranks #124 of 304 California cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (52/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $348,500
    +8.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,324
    per month
    Household income
    $66,804
    median
    Unemployment
    8.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Fresno

    The median home value in Fresno is $348,500 and median rent is $1,324 a month, against a median household income of $66,804. Homes cost about 5.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Fresno crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across California the 2025 rate was 435 violent and 1,821 property crimes per 100,000 people — #9 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Fresno, CA

    Fresno has about 543,615 residents, 8.7% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Fresno with

    Fresno vs Los AngelesFresno vs San DiegoFresno vs San JoseFresno vs San FranciscoFresno vs SacramentoFresno vs Long BeachFresno vs OaklandFresno vs Bakersfield

    More: Where to move in California · Best counties in California

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report