Anyone know what the fastest growing California cities are, high growth areas, trends etc? Any good websites that discuss this type of thing? I'm ready to leave the east coast and move to a western state (preferably California). Appreciate any thoughts on this. Thanks, Tom

California’s three largest cities—Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose—led the state in persons gained in 2001. Their numeric increases, respectively, were 64,100, 15,500, and 14,200. Their total populations, respectively, were 3,807,400, 1,255,700, and 918,000.


Glendale, in Los Angeles County, re-passed the 200,000 landmark this year, following a census count that pulled it below this previously estimated level. It now has an estimate of 200,200 people. Fairfield, in Solano County, reached a landmark in 2002 by surpassing 100,000 in population for the first time; its estimated population is 100,200. Surpassing the 50,000-person landmark was Murrieta, in Riverside County, with a population of 51,600.

·Lincoln, in Placer County, had the state’s fastest growth rate at 28.3 percent, resulting from adding over 1,500 new housing units.

·Temecula, in Riverside County, displayed the second-fastest growth rate, at 18.2 percent. The growth surge was attributed to a large inhabited annexation.

·Other fast-growing cities grew due to substantial new housing unit construction. Besides Lincoln, these include Brentwood in Contra Costa County (18.1%), Rio Vista in Solano County (12.9%), Murrieta in Riverside County (11.6%), and American Canyon in Napa County (11.4%).

·California City, in Kern County, grew at 17.1 percent, mainly from adding over 1,500 inmates to its federal prison.

10 Fastest Growing Cities Based on Percentage Change

City Population Percentage Change
January 1, 2002 2001-02

1. Lincoln 17,700 28.3
2. Temecula 72,700 18.2
3. Brentwood 29,650 18.1
4. California City 10,800 17.1
5. Rio Vista 5,350 12.9
6. Murrieta 51,600 11.6
7. American Canyon 11,250 11.4
8. La Quinta 28,700 10.4
9. Kerman 9,575 8.8
10. Coronado 25,950 8.4

10 Fastest Growing Cities Under 300,000 Based on Numerical Population Change

City Population Numeric Change
January 1, 2002 2001-02

1. Temecula 72,700 11,200
2. Chula Vista 190,900 9,700
3. Irvine 157,500 9,300
4. Riverside 269,400 8,200
5. Bakersfield 257,900 7,800
6. Fontana 139,100 6,400
7. Rancho Cucamonga137,100 6,300
8. Elk Grove 81,400 5,500
9. Stockton 253,800 5,400
10. Murrieta 51,600 5,350


http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/Druhpar.htm

David,
Thanks so much for the helpful information. This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. Any similar reports on crime and safest cities? Tom

Why would you want to move to one of the fastest growing Cities? Sounds like incredible traffic, sprawl, loss of trees, overcrowded schools, huge foreign born populations, etc.

Some growth is nice but I would not want to move to the fastest growing city!

Fastest growing also means development of new industry and jobs. With unemployment rates as they are these are MUSTS when considering relocation.

You can take this from someone who is currently employed but looking to relocate as well and has been sending resumes to targeted cities and job openings for over 4 months already. So far I have only made it to the interview stage on 2 leads. You certainly wouldn't want to move somewhere where growth is depressed and companies are laying off employees or closing branches in that area, you need the opposite!

Exactly....if you're unemployed and willing to move anywhere to work, you are going to target cities that are expanding and have better employment opportunities.

I think it is a fallacy to assume that a fast-growing city in California is going to offer you more opportunity for employment. You might find lower housing costs, and this would be the prime reason for the increase in growth in these areas -- California residents moving there so they can afford to buy a house. However, many of these people are then commuting an incredible distance to work. Brentwood, and many of the others listed, are really bedroom communities on the outskirts of more urban areas, like Sacramento and San Jose. The jobs are still located in the urban areas but the cost of housing close to work is so outrageous many folks are choosing a two or three hour commute for the opportunity to own a home. Do your research carefully before you move!

Tom,

Glad you found the previous information helpful. Here is a link to some crime statistics in California. Hope this helps.


http://www.mccormacks.com/pdf/s_barbara/crime.pdf