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Contra Costa County

#7 in Best Counties to Live in California
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • County in California
  • 24 reviews
    A-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      D+
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      B+
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D-
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A+
    12. Commute
      C+
    View Full Report Card
    Contra Costa County is located in California with a population of 1,123,678. Contra Costa County is one of the best places to live in California. In Contra Costa County, most residents own their homes. In Contra Costa County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Contra Costa County and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Contra Costa County are highly rated.
    Population
    1,123,678

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $522,300
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,600
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    —
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      34%
    • Own
      66%
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    Contra Costa County Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      181.4
      282.7
    • Murder
      3.8
      6.1
    • Rape
      27.1
      40.7
    • Robbery
      138.2
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      373.6
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,804.6
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      520
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      12%
    • 10-17 years
      11%
    • 18-24 years
      8%
    • 25-34 years
      13%
    • 35-44 years
      13%
    • 45-54 years
      15%
    • 55-64 years
      13%
    • 65+ years
      15%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      15%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      26%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      30%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      18%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      11%
      13%

    Working in Contra Costa County

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $88,456
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Contra Costa County
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

      Contra Costa County Reviews

      24 reviews
      All Categories
      I love Contra Costa County. This is where I was born and have since moved, but I feel happy with the foundation I received here. It is a family-friendly environment with many enrichment programs, free parks and sports areas, hiking, trails, and various accessible pool. Unfortunately, the public school system sees success in only a elect few of the various elementary, middle, and high schools available. There is not much diversity in Contra Costa, the majority of the population being either white or hispanic families whose breadwinners commute to and from work, or retired individuals. People are relatively active in the city politics in this area, and students do rather well when compared to other counties in California. The property is expensive but incredibly located, with the closest major city being less than an hour away and accessible by public transportation. Overall, a great place to live.
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      Contra Costa County is a very nice area in the East Bay. There are nice schools, easy transportation with BART, making the rest of the bay area accessible. The housing varies from new housing to more vintage housing. In areas like San Ramon and Walnut Creek you can find more of an upscale and modern area for shopping and eating. In Concord/Pleasant Hill/Martinez it varies. It is overall a very safe area.
      It's a great, diverse community filled with interesting places to study at, hang out, and have some fun. Everyone that I've met at Contra Costa County was very welcoming, supportive, and nice.