Market rankings · California

Convenience stores in California

Markets across California ranked by the Groundwork market score for convenience stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 9,019; 6,219 chain locations (69%)
Official establishments: 3,112; +8.6% since 2019
Household spending a year: $88.7B; On groceries
Listings per 10k households: 6.7; 16% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $9.8M; 25% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #15 of 51; Market score 58 · Upper middle

A site report maps the convenience stores on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Map listings as of September 2026 show 9,019 convenience stores in California. Of those, 6,219 are chain locations, or 69%, against 60% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 6.7, 16% below the U.S. rate of 8.0.

Households in California spend about $88.7B a year on groceries, or $6,548 per household, 4% above the U.S. average. That works out to $9.8M per store, 25% above the U.S. figure of $7.9M. That spending covers all groceries, which convenience stores share with other businesses in the trade.

In 2023, official counts showed 3,112 businesses with payroll in California classed as convenience stores, up 8.6% from 2019. That is one for every 4,353 households, against one for every 3,493 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 22.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 196 SBA-backed loans worth $108.2M have gone to businesses classed as convenience stores in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #15 for convenience stores, with a Groundwork market score of 58 (upper middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area scores highest (74). Of the 9 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Truckee-Grass Valley area scores highest (81).

Every market in California for convenience stores

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in California, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching California, ranked for convenience stores by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	74	313	4.6	$16.3M	−0.6%	#40 of 387
2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	72	804	4.6	$15.6M	−2.4%	#49 of 387
3San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	70	60	5.5	$11.8M	0.0%	#59 of 387
4Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	70	615	7.0	$9.3M	+3.2%	#62 of 387
5Stockton-Lodi, CA	67	207	8.4	$7.5M	+5.5%	#78 of 387
6Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	65	162	5.8	$11.7M	−1.5%	#91 of 387
7Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	64	60	6.2	$11M	−4.7%	#99 of 387
8San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	64	726	6.2	$10.8M	−0.6%	#100 of 387
9Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	62	98	5.1	$13M	−0.4%	#112 of 387
10Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	59	2,792	6.2	$10.4M	−2.6%	#135 of 387
11Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	59	95	6.3	$10.3M	−1.4%	#136 of 387
12Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	58	1,261	8.7	$7.2M	+3.5%	#152 of 387
13Vallejo, CA	56	130	8.3	$7.9M	+0.6%	#160 of 387
14Napa, CA	55	31	6.2	$10.9M	−3.3%	#165 of 387
15Salinas, CA	51	94	7.1	$9.1M	−1.5%	#191 of 387
16Fresno, CA	46	296	8.0	$7.4M	+3.2%	#224 of 387
17Redding, CA	46	63	8.8	$6.7M	−0.3%	#228 of 387
18Modesto, CA	45	162	9.1	$6.7M	+0.7%	#232 of 387
19Yuba City, CA	44	55	8.9	$6.8M	+3.3%	#236 of 387
20Merced, CA	39	91	10.6	$5.4M	+5.1%	#268 of 387
21Chico, CA	37	67	8.0	$7.2M	−0.5%	#281 of 387
22Visalia, CA	33	149	10.4	$5.6M	+2.4%	#304 of 387
23Bakersfield-Delano, CA	31	317	11.1	$5.2M	+2.3%	#314 of 387
24Hanford-Corcoran, CA	27	43	9.8	$5.9M	+1.0%	#332 of 387
25El Centro, CA	25	66	13.3	$4.1M	+1.1%	#350 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for convenience stores by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	81	23	5.4	$11.8M	−0.4%	#15 of 529
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	69	13	6.0	$10.6M	+0.9%	#90 of 529
2Eureka-Arcata, CA	67	32	5.8	$9.7M	−3.4%	#105 of 529
3Sonora, CA	67	19	8.4	$7.2M	−4.0%	#111 of 529
4Crescent City, CA	61	5	5.3	$10.9M	−4.4%	#162 of 529
5Clearlake, CA	53	22	8.2	$6.9M	−0.6%	#251 of 529
6Ukiah, CA	50	29	8.3	$7M	−3.5%	#279 of 529
7Bishop, CA	48	8	10.0	$5.9M	−4.4%	#301 of 529
8Red Bluff, CA	44	23	9.3	$6.1M	−1.7%	#335 of 529
Susanville, CA	Not scored	2	2.2	$26.2M	−13.1%

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for convenience stores by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1San Benito County, CA	95	9	4.4	$15.7M	+8.6%	#8 of 2,261
2Placer County, CA	89	102	6.5	$10.6M	+8.9%	#45 of 2,261
3Amador County, CA	81	9	5.6	$11M	+3.2%	#141 of 2,261
4Contra Costa County, CA	80	210	5.1	$14M	+0.3%	#160 of 2,261
5Riverside County, CA	80	574	7.4	$8.6M	+5.0%	#173 of 2,261
6Santa Clara County, CA	79	304	4.6	$16.4M	−0.9%	#181 of 2,261
7El Dorado County, CA	79	46	6.0	$11.2M	+0.6%	#188 of 2,261
8San Mateo County, CA	78	100	3.8	$19.8M	−2.5%	#209 of 2,261
9San Joaquin County, CA	78	207	8.4	$7.5M	+5.5%	#235 of 2,261
10San Luis Obispo County, CA	77	60	5.5	$11.8M	0.0%	#243 of 2,261
11Alameda County, CA	76	297	5.0	$14.3M	−2.6%	#269 of 2,261
12San Francisco County, CA	75	150	4.1	$17.4M	−5.6%	#286 of 2,261
13Nevada County, CA	75	23	5.4	$11.8M	−0.4%	#290 of 2,261
14Sacramento County, CA	75	405	7.1	$8.9M	+2.0%	#297 of 2,261
15Marin County, CA	73	47	4.6	$16.1M	−2.9%	#333 of 2,261
16Orange County, CA	73	655	6.0	$11.4M	−1.1%	#342 of 2,261
17Yolo County, CA	73	62	8.1	$7.8M	+3.1%	#353 of 2,261
18San Diego County, CA	72	726	6.2	$10.8M	−0.6%	#363 of 2,261
19Ventura County, CA	71	162	5.8	$11.7M	−1.5%	#394 of 2,261
20Madera County, CA	71	38	8.4	$7.1M	+7.4%	#411 of 2,261
21Santa Cruz County, CA	70	60	6.2	$11M	−4.7%	#420 of 2,261
22Sonoma County, CA	68	98	5.1	$13M	−0.4%	#474 of 2,261
23Solano County, CA	68	130	8.3	$7.9M	+0.6%	#485 of 2,261
24Santa Barbara County, CA	67	95	6.3	$10.3M	−1.4%	#513 of 2,261
25Calaveras County, CA	66	19	10.3	$5.9M	+2.8%	#565 of 2,261

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for convenience stores by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Los Angeles County, CA	65	2,137	6.3	$10.1M	−3.0%	#571 of 2,261
27Yuba County, CA	65	24	8.4	$7.1M	+8.2%	#593 of 2,261
28Humboldt County, CA	62	32	5.8	$9.7M	−3.4%	#671 of 2,261
29Shasta County, CA	62	63	8.8	$6.7M	−0.3%	#689 of 2,261
30Monterey County, CA	61	94	7.1	$9.1M	−1.5%	#706 of 2,261
31Tuolumne County, CA	61	19	8.4	$7.2M	−4.0%	#719 of 2,261
32San Bernardino County, CA	61	687	10.2	$6.1M	+1.9%	#729 of 2,261
33Napa County, CA	60	31	6.2	$10.9M	−3.3%	#744 of 2,261
34Stanislaus County, CA	60	162	9.1	$6.7M	+0.7%	#763 of 2,261
35Fresno County, CA	59	258	7.9	$7.5M	+2.6%	#792 of 2,261
36Merced County, CA	57	91	10.6	$5.4M	+5.1%	#881 of 2,261
37Del Norte County, CA	55	5	5.3	$10.9M	−4.4%	#919 of 2,261
38Plumas County, CA	53	5	6.2	$9.3M	−5.9%	#1,001 of 2,261
39Butte County, CA	53	67	8.0	$7.2M	−0.5%	#1,010 of 2,261
40Mariposa County, CA	51	6	8.0	$7.3M	−1.2%	#1,074 of 2,261
41Tulare County, CA	51	149	10.4	$5.6M	+2.4%	#1,091 of 2,261
42Kern County, CA	49	317	11.1	$5.2M	+2.3%	#1,165 of 2,261
43Lake County, CA	48	22	8.2	$6.9M	−0.6%	#1,187 of 2,261
44Sutter County, CA	48	31	9.3	$6.5M	−0.7%	#1,191 of 2,261
45Mendocino County, CA	46	29	8.3	$7M	−3.5%	#1,255 of 2,261
46Colusa County, CA	46	7	9.3	$6.3M	−0.1%	#1,261 of 2,261
47Kings County, CA	45	43	9.8	$5.9M	+1.0%	#1,297 of 2,261
48Inyo County, CA	42	8	10.0	$5.9M	−4.4%	#1,397 of 2,261
49Imperial County, CA	41	66	13.3	$4.1M	+1.1%	#1,459 of 2,261
50Tehama County, CA	40	23	9.3	$6.1M	−1.7%	#1,471 of 2,261
51Mono County, CA	40	8	13.9	$4.7M	−5.4%	#1,484 of 2,261
52Siskiyou County, CA	38	18	9.4	$5.8M	−4.5%	#1,545 of 2,261
53Glenn County, CA	29	12	12.2	$4.6M	−2.6%	#1,822 of 2,261
54Trinity County, CA	28	5	9.0	$6M	−2.3%	#1,843 of 2,261
Lassen County, CA	Not scored	2	2.2	$26.2M	−13.1%
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	8	24.5	$2.2M	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	2	16.4	$3.5M	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−11.6%

Markets with fewer than 5 convenience stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many convenience stores are in California?

There are 9,019 convenience stores on map listings in California as of September 2026. 6,219 of them (69%) are chain locations. The listings count convenience stores without fuel. Official counts show 3,112 businesses with payroll classed as convenience stores in 2023, up 8.6% from 2019.

How much do households in California spend on groceries?

About $88.7B a year, or $6,548 per household. That is 4% above the U.S. average (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 9,019 convenience stores on map listings, it comes to $9.8M per store. The spending figure covers all groceries, not only convenience stores. It is estimated from the incomes of the 13,548,091 households in California and national spending patterns by income.

How does California compare with the U.S. for convenience stores?

California has 6.7 convenience stores per 10,000 households, 16% below the U.S. rate of 8.0. Spending per store is $9.8M, 25% above the U.S. figure of $7.9M. At the national ratio of convenience stores to household spending, California would have about 11,260, against 9,019 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 4,353 households, against one for every 3,493 across the U.S. The official count rose 8.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +22.0% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for convenience stores?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area scores highest, at 74 (upper middle). Among 9 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Truckee-Grass Valley area scores highest, at 81 (high). Among 54 scored counties in California, San Benito County scores highest, at 95 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. California scores 58 for convenience stores (upper middle), #15 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in California. It maps the convenience stores on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Grocery and convenience stores24,469 listings
Grocery stores9,786 listings

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