Market rankings · California

Optometrists and eye clinics in California

Every metro area, small-town market and county in California, ranked by the Groundwork market score for optometrists and eye clinics, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 6,086; 699 chain locations (11%)
Official establishments: 2,757; −6.0% since 2019
Household spending a year: $19.8B; On medical and dental services
Listings per 10k households: 4.5; 10% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $3.3M; 4% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #32 of 51; Market score 46 · Lower middle

A site report maps the optometrists and eye clinics 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

California has 6,086 optometrists and eye clinics on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 11% of them, against 20% across the U.S. That is 4.5 per 10,000 households, 10% above the U.S. rate of 4.1.

At $1,464 per household (14% above the U.S. average), households in California spend about $19.8B a year on medical and dental services. That is about $3.3M of household spending for each practice on map listings, 4% above the U.S. figure of $3.1M. The spending figure covers all medical and dental services, not only optometrists and eye clinics.

In 2023, official counts showed 2,757 businesses with payroll in California classed as offices of optometrists, down 6.0% from 2019. That is one for every 4,914 households, against one for every 5,742 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 0.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 67 SBA-backed loans worth $44.8M have gone to businesses classed as offices of optometrists in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #32 for optometrists and eye clinics, with a Groundwork market score of 46 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Stockton-Lodi metro area scores highest (86). Of the 6 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Truckee-Grass Valley area scores highest (83).

Every market in California for optometrists and eye clinics

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 optometrists and eye clinics by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Stockton-Lodi, CA	86	59	2.4	$5.8M	+5.5%	#1 of 386
2Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	77	56	2.9	$5.1M	−0.4%	#19 of 386
3Vallejo, CA	72	47	3.0	$4.8M	+0.6%	#32 of 386
4Merced, CA	72	22	2.6	$4.6M	+5.1%	#33 of 386
5Visalia, CA	71	41	2.9	$4.3M	+2.4%	#36 of 386
6Fresno, CA	71	122	3.3	$3.8M	+3.2%	#37 of 386
7Napa, CA	69	16	3.2	$4.8M	−3.3%	#48 of 386
8Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	69	302	3.4	$4.2M	+3.2%	#53 of 386
9Yuba City, CA	65	18	2.9	$4.4M	+3.3%	#77 of 386
10Bakersfield-Delano, CA	60	99	3.5	$3.5M	+2.3%	#106 of 386
11San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	57	750	4.3	$3.9M	−2.4%	#123 of 386
12Modesto, CA	56	65	3.7	$3.6M	+0.7%	#133 of 386
13Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	55	39	4.0	$3.8M	−4.7%	#140 of 386
14Salinas, CA	55	58	4.4	$3.3M	−1.5%	#144 of 386
15Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	53	71	4.7	$3.1M	−1.4%	#169 of 386
16Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	50	635	4.4	$3.1M	+3.5%	#203 of 386
17San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	47	363	5.3	$3.4M	−0.6%	#227 of 386
18Chico, CA	47	31	3.7	$3.3M	−0.5%	#228 of 386
19San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	44	581	5.0	$3M	−0.6%	#257 of 386
20Hanford-Corcoran, CA	35	19	4.3	$2.8M	+1.0%	#311 of 386
21Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	31	2,309	5.1	$2.8M	−2.6%	#326 of 386
22San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	31	71	6.5	$2.2M	0.0%	#329 of 386
23El Centro, CA	31	27	5.4	$2.1M	+1.1%	#330 of 386
24Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	29	175	6.2	$2.4M	−1.5%	#345 of 386
25Redding, CA	24	37	5.2	$2.4M	−0.3%	#364 of 386

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for optometrists and eye clinics by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	83	10	2.3	$6M	−0.4%	#8 of 400
2Clearlake, CA	71	7	2.6	$4.5M	−0.6%	#51 of 400
3Red Bluff, CA	64	5	2.0	$5.8M	−1.7%	#87 of 400
4Eureka-Arcata, CA	63	12	2.2	$5.4M	−3.4%	#100 of 400
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	63	7	3.2	$4.3M	+0.9%	#101 of 400
5Ukiah, CA	55	12	3.4	$3.5M	−3.5%	#160 of 400
Sonora, CA	Not scored	4	1.8	$7.2M	−4.0%
Susanville, CA	Not scored	2	2.2	$5.4M	−13.1%
Crescent City, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−4.4%
Bishop, CA	Not scored	4	5.0	$2.5M	−4.4%

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for optometrists and eye clinics by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1San Benito County, CA	93	6	2.9	$5.3M	+8.6%	#1 of 1,302
2San Joaquin County, CA	87	59	2.4	$5.8M	+5.5%	#10 of 1,302
3Yolo County, CA	80	20	2.6	$5.4M	+3.1%	#52 of 1,302
4Madera County, CA	79	13	2.9	$4.4M	+7.4%	#68 of 1,302
5Nevada County, CA	77	10	2.3	$6M	−0.4%	#88 of 1,302
6Sonoma County, CA	77	56	2.9	$5.1M	−0.4%	#91 of 1,302
7Calaveras County, CA	76	5	2.7	$4.8M	+2.8%	#111 of 1,302
8Solano County, CA	75	47	3.0	$4.8M	+0.6%	#119 of 1,302
9Merced County, CA	74	22	2.6	$4.6M	+5.1%	#132 of 1,302
10El Dorado County, CA	71	21	2.8	$5.5M	+0.6%	#174 of 1,302
11Napa County, CA	71	16	3.2	$4.8M	−3.3%	#178 of 1,302
12Tulare County, CA	71	41	2.9	$4.3M	+2.4%	#184 of 1,302
13Sacramento County, CA	70	190	3.3	$4.2M	+2.0%	#198 of 1,302
14Fresno County, CA	70	109	3.4	$3.8M	+2.6%	#202 of 1,302
15Contra Costa County, CA	69	174	4.2	$3.9M	+0.3%	#216 of 1,302
16Placer County, CA	68	71	4.5	$3.5M	+8.9%	#243 of 1,302
17Lake County, CA	65	7	2.6	$4.5M	−0.6%	#295 of 1,302
18Kern County, CA	64	99	3.5	$3.5M	+2.3%	#322 of 1,302
19Riverside County, CA	64	334	4.3	$3.2M	+5.0%	#328 of 1,302
20San Mateo County, CA	62	121	4.6	$3.9M	−2.5%	#364 of 1,302
21Stanislaus County, CA	61	65	3.7	$3.6M	+0.7%	#394 of 1,302
22Tehama County, CA	60	5	2.0	$5.8M	−1.7%	#407 of 1,302
23Monterey County, CA	60	58	4.4	$3.3M	−1.5%	#425 of 1,302
24Santa Barbara County, CA	59	71	4.7	$3.1M	−1.4%	#447 of 1,302
25Humboldt County, CA	58	12	2.2	$5.4M	−3.4%	#456 of 1,302

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for optometrists and eye clinics by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Alameda County, CA	58	257	4.3	$3.9M	−2.6%	#461 of 1,302
27Santa Cruz County, CA	58	39	4.0	$3.8M	−4.7%	#462 of 1,302
28Marin County, CA	56	45	4.4	$4M	−2.9%	#508 of 1,302
29San Francisco County, CA	55	153	4.2	$4M	−5.6%	#546 of 1,302
30Butte County, CA	53	31	3.7	$3.3M	−0.5%	#610 of 1,302
31San Diego County, CA	52	581	5.0	$3M	−0.6%	#636 of 1,302
32San Bernardino County, CA	52	301	4.5	$3M	+1.9%	#638 of 1,302
33Santa Clara County, CA	50	357	5.4	$3.4M	−0.9%	#674 of 1,302
34Mendocino County, CA	49	12	3.4	$3.5M	−3.5%	#694 of 1,302
35Los Angeles County, CA	46	1,567	4.6	$3M	−3.0%	#767 of 1,302
36Kings County, CA	45	19	4.3	$2.8M	+1.0%	#793 of 1,302
37San Luis Obispo County, CA	42	71	6.5	$2.2M	0.0%	#883 of 1,302
38Sutter County, CA	40	15	4.5	$2.9M	−0.7%	#907 of 1,302
39Imperial County, CA	39	27	5.4	$2.1M	+1.1%	#937 of 1,302
40Ventura County, CA	38	175	6.2	$2.4M	−1.5%	#945 of 1,302
41Shasta County, CA	34	37	5.2	$2.4M	−0.3%	#1,020 of 1,302
42Orange County, CA	33	742	6.9	$2.3M	−1.1%	#1,037 of 1,302
Yuba County, CA	Not scored	3	1.0	$11.9M	+8.2%
Tuolumne County, CA	Not scored	4	1.8	$7.2M	−4.0%
Siskiyou County, CA	Not scored	3	1.6	$7.1M	−4.5%
Amador County, CA	Not scored	3	1.9	$7.1M	+3.2%
Lassen County, CA	Not scored	2	2.2	$5.4M	−13.1%
Glenn County, CA	Not scored	2	2.0	$5.7M	−2.6%
Del Norte County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−4.4%
Colusa County, CA	Not scored	1	1.3	$9.4M	−0.1%
Plumas County, CA	Not scored	1	1.2	$9.8M	−5.9%
Inyo County, CA	Not scored	4	5.0	$2.5M	−4.4%
Mariposa County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−1.2%
Trinity County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−2.3%
Mono County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−5.4%
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	2	6.1	$1.8M	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−11.6%

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

Questions

How many optometrists and eye clinics are in California?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 6,086 optometrists and eye clinics in California. 699 of them (11%) are chain locations. The listings count optometrists and eye clinics. Official counts show 2,757 businesses with payroll classed as offices of optometrists in 2023, down 6.0% from 2019.

How much do households in California spend on medical and dental services?

About $19.8B a year, or $1,464 per household. That is 14% above the U.S. average (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 6,086 optometrists and eye clinics on map listings, it comes to $3.3M per practice. That spending covers all medical and dental services, which optometrists and eye clinics share with other businesses in the trade. 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 optometrists and eye clinics?

California has 4.5 optometrists and eye clinics per 10,000 households, 10% above the U.S. rate of 4.1. Spending per practice is $3.3M, 4% above the U.S. figure of $3.1M. At the U.S. ratio of optometrists and eye clinics to household spending, California would have about 6,331, against 6,086 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 4,914 households, against one for every 5,742 across the U.S. The official count fell 6.0% from 2019 to 2023, against +0.2% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for optometrists and eye clinics?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Stockton-Lodi metro area scores highest, at 86 (high). Among 6 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Truckee-Grass Valley area scores highest, at 83 (high). Among 42 scored counties in California, San Benito County scores highest, at 93 (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 46 for optometrists and eye clinics (lower middle), #32 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 optometrists and eye clinics 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.

Doctors, dentists and clinics119,682 listings
Dentists and orthodontists24,273 listings
Primary care and pediatrics9,838 listings
Urgent care and walk-in clinics833 listings
Chiropractors7,604 listings
Physical therapy6,019 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in California?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

Run a site report See plans