Market rankings · California

Gas stations in California

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

Listings: 10,937; 8,987 chain locations (82%)
Official establishments: 8,116; +7.2% since 2019
Household spending a year: $37.2B; On gasoline and other fuels
Listings per 10k households: 8.1; 26% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $3.4M; 43% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #12 of 51; Market score 66 · Upper middle

A site report maps the gas stations 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

There are 10,937 gas stations on map listings in California as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 82% of them, against 84% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 8.1, 26% below the U.S. rate of 10.9.

Households in California spend about $37.2B a year on gasoline and other fuels, or $2,747 per household, 6% above the U.S. average. Spread across 10,937 gas stations, that is $3.4M per station, 43% above the U.S. figure of $2.4M.

Official counts show 8,116 businesses with payroll classed as gasoline stations in California in 2023, up 7.2% from 2019. That is one for every 1,669 households, against one for every 1,184 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 3.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 518 SBA-backed loans worth $1.2B have gone to businesses classed as gasoline stations in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #12 for gas stations, with a Groundwork market score of 66 (upper middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area scores highest (82). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest (88).

Every market in California for gas stations

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 gas stations by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	82	1,263	8.7	$3.6M	+3.5%	#12 of 387
2Stockton-Lodi, CA	75	258	10.5	$2.9M	+5.5%	#34 of 387
3Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	74	211	7.5	$4M	−1.5%	#39 of 387
4Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	73	141	7.4	$3.9M	−0.4%	#46 of 387
5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	73	738	8.4	$3.3M	+3.2%	#47 of 387
6Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	72	73	7.5	$3.9M	−4.7%	#50 of 387
7San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	71	705	6.0	$4.6M	−0.6%	#54 of 387
8San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	71	465	6.8	$4.1M	−0.6%	#56 of 387
9San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	70	91	8.3	$3.6M	0.0%	#65 of 387
10Vallejo, CA	70	159	10.1	$3M	+0.6%	#67 of 387
11Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	65	126	8.4	$3.3M	−1.4%	#98 of 387
12Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	64	2,941	6.5	$4M	−2.6%	#104 of 387
13San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	60	1,103	6.3	$3.8M	−2.4%	#125 of 387
14Napa, CA	59	47	9.4	$3.1M	−3.3%	#130 of 387
15Yuba City, CA	59	75	12.1	$2.5M	+3.3%	#133 of 387
16Modesto, CA	56	207	11.6	$2.6M	+0.7%	#157 of 387
17Salinas, CA	53	151	11.4	$2.6M	−1.5%	#175 of 387
18Fresno, CA	50	508	13.7	$2M	+3.2%	#201 of 387
19Merced, CA	50	137	15.9	$1.8M	+5.1%	#202 of 387
20Chico, CA	48	86	10.3	$2.6M	−0.5%	#209 of 387
21Bakersfield-Delano, CA	41	404	14.2	$2M	+2.3%	#259 of 387
22Visalia, CA	41	243	17.0	$1.8M	+2.4%	#262 of 387
23Hanford-Corcoran, CA	37	71	16.1	$1.8M	+1.0%	#286 of 387
24El Centro, CA	24	81	16.3	$1.7M	+1.1%	#349 of 387
25Redding, CA	22	121	17.0	$1.6M	−0.3%	#358 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for gas stations by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	88	16	7.4	$4.3M	+0.9%	#5 of 536
1Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	76	42	9.8	$3M	−0.4%	#46 of 536
2Clearlake, CA	62	39	14.5	$2M	−0.6%	#146 of 536
3Sonora, CA	59	33	14.5	$2M	−4.0%	#174 of 536
4Eureka-Arcata, CA	57	52	9.5	$2.7M	−3.4%	#191 of 536
5Crescent City, CA	55	11	11.6	$2.3M	−4.4%	#214 of 536
6Ukiah, CA	45	46	13.2	$2M	−3.5%	#324 of 536
7Red Bluff, CA	33	53	21.4	$1.3M	−1.7%	#436 of 536
8Susanville, CA	20	22	23.8	$1.2M	−13.1%	#500 of 536
9Bishop, CA	7	28	34.8	$781K	−4.4%	#533 of 536

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for gas stations by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1San Benito County, CA	97	8	3.9	$9M	+8.6%	#1 of 2,358
2Riverside County, CA	87	568	7.3	$4.2M	+5.0%	#54 of 2,358
3San Joaquin County, CA	79	258	10.5	$2.9M	+5.5%	#173 of 2,358
4Placer County, CA	78	164	10.4	$2.8M	+8.9%	#198 of 2,358
5San Bernardino County, CA	75	695	10.3	$3M	+1.9%	#259 of 2,358
6Contra Costa County, CA	74	306	7.4	$3.9M	+0.3%	#283 of 2,358
7Solano County, CA	74	159	10.1	$3M	+0.6%	#295 of 2,358
8Ventura County, CA	73	211	7.5	$4M	−1.5%	#313 of 2,358
9El Dorado County, CA	73	78	10.2	$3M	+0.6%	#321 of 2,358
10Orange County, CA	72	691	6.4	$4.5M	−1.1%	#331 of 2,358
11Sonoma County, CA	72	141	7.4	$3.9M	−0.4%	#332 of 2,358
12Sacramento County, CA	72	414	7.2	$3.7M	+2.0%	#333 of 2,358
13San Luis Obispo County, CA	72	91	8.3	$3.6M	0.0%	#335 of 2,358
14San Diego County, CA	70	705	6.0	$4.6M	−0.6%	#393 of 2,358
15Santa Cruz County, CA	69	73	7.5	$3.9M	−4.7%	#421 of 2,358
16Santa Clara County, CA	68	457	6.9	$4M	−0.9%	#451 of 2,358
17Nevada County, CA	68	42	9.8	$3M	−0.4%	#455 of 2,358
18Yuba County, CA	68	42	14.7	$2M	+8.2%	#472 of 2,358
19Yolo County, CA	67	82	10.7	$2.5M	+3.1%	#488 of 2,358
20Santa Barbara County, CA	66	126	8.4	$3.3M	−1.4%	#510 of 2,358
21Stanislaus County, CA	66	207	11.6	$2.6M	+0.7%	#522 of 2,358
22Calaveras County, CA	66	26	14.1	$2.3M	+2.8%	#531 of 2,358
23Marin County, CA	65	56	5.4	$4.8M	−2.9%	#544 of 2,358
24Sutter County, CA	65	33	9.9	$3M	−0.7%	#549 of 2,358
25San Mateo County, CA	64	213	8.1	$3.4M	−2.5%	#588 of 2,358

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for gas stations by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Napa County, CA	63	47	9.4	$3.1M	−3.3%	#612 of 2,358
27Los Angeles County, CA	62	2,250	6.6	$3.9M	−3.0%	#640 of 2,358
28Monterey County, CA	62	151	11.4	$2.6M	−1.5%	#663 of 2,358
29Amador County, CA	62	24	14.9	$2M	+3.2%	#675 of 2,358
30Alameda County, CA	61	422	7.1	$3.5M	−2.6%	#694 of 2,358
31San Francisco County, CA	60	106	2.9	$5.2M	−5.6%	#729 of 2,358
32Fresno County, CA	60	422	13.0	$2.1M	+2.6%	#762 of 2,358
33Merced County, CA	60	137	15.9	$1.8M	+5.1%	#778 of 2,358
34Butte County, CA	58	86	10.3	$2.6M	−0.5%	#825 of 2,358
35Madera County, CA	58	86	19.0	$1.6M	+7.4%	#852 of 2,358
36Kern County, CA	54	404	14.2	$2M	+2.3%	#997 of 2,358
37Tulare County, CA	54	243	17.0	$1.8M	+2.4%	#1,004 of 2,358
38Lake County, CA	52	39	14.5	$2M	−0.6%	#1,081 of 2,358
39Tuolumne County, CA	51	33	14.5	$2M	−4.0%	#1,126 of 2,358
40Humboldt County, CA	49	52	9.5	$2.7M	−3.4%	#1,196 of 2,358
41Del Norte County, CA	49	11	11.6	$2.3M	−4.4%	#1,204 of 2,358
42Kings County, CA	49	71	16.1	$1.8M	+1.0%	#1,230 of 2,358
43Mariposa County, CA	41	13	17.3	$1.7M	−1.2%	#1,551 of 2,358
44Mendocino County, CA	39	46	13.2	$2M	−3.5%	#1,619 of 2,358
45Imperial County, CA	39	81	16.3	$1.7M	+1.1%	#1,629 of 2,358
46Glenn County, CA	37	20	20.4	$1.5M	−2.6%	#1,719 of 2,358
47Shasta County, CA	36	121	17.0	$1.6M	−0.3%	#1,750 of 2,358
48Colusa County, CA	31	19	25.3	$1.2M	−0.1%	#1,930 of 2,358
49Tehama County, CA	29	53	21.4	$1.3M	−1.7%	#1,995 of 2,358
50Mono County, CA	26	10	17.4	$1.7M	−5.4%	#2,073 of 2,358
51Lassen County, CA	19	22	23.8	$1.2M	−13.1%	#2,229 of 2,358
52Siskiyou County, CA	14	58	30.4	$915K	−4.5%	#2,297 of 2,358
53Plumas County, CA	10	22	27.3	$986K	−5.9%	#2,336 of 2,358
54Inyo County, CA	8	28	34.8	$781K	−4.4%	#2,347 of 2,358
Trinity County, CA	Not scored	4	7.2	$3.8M	−2.3%
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	7	21.4	$1.4M	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	2	16.4	$1.4M	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	1	23.0	$1.3M	−11.6%

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

Questions

How many gas stations are in California?

As of September 2026, map listings count 10,937 gas stations in California. 8,987 of them (82%) are chain locations. The listings count gas stations. Official counts show 8,116 businesses with payroll classed as gasoline stations in 2023, up 7.2% from 2019. Official counts list 313 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in California spend on gasoline and other fuels?

About $37.2B a year, or $2,747 per household. That is 6% above the U.S. average (an index of 106, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 10,937 gas stations on map listings, it comes to $3.4M per station. 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 gas stations?

California has 8.1 gas stations per 10,000 households, 26% below the U.S. rate of 10.9. Spending per station is $3.4M, 43% above the U.S. figure of $2.4M. At the U.S. ratio of gas stations to household spending, California would have about 15,608, against 10,937 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,669 households, against one for every 1,184 across the U.S. The official count rose 7.2% from 2019 to 2023, against −3.1% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for gas stations?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area scores highest, at 82 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest, at 88 (high). Among 54 scored counties in California, San Benito County scores highest, at 97 (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 66 for gas stations (upper middle), #12 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 gas stations 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.

Auto repair and car care52,949 listings
Auto repair shops33,404 listings
Collision repair and body shops5,166 listings
Car washes and detailing4,444 listings
Tire shops5,228 listings
Oil change and quick lube759 listings
Insurance agencies23,237 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.

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