Market rankings · California

Insurance agencies in California

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

Listings: 23,237; 4,785 chain locations (21%)
Official establishments: 13,919; −4.0% since 2019
Household spending a year: $26.1B; On vehicle insurance
Listings per 10k households: 17.2; 10% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $1.1M; 11% below the U.S.
Rank among states: #37 of 51; Market score 34 · Lower middle

A site report maps the insurance agencies 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 23,237 insurance agencies on map listings in California as of September 2026. 4,785 of them (21%) are chain locations, against 21% across the U.S. That comes to 17.2 for every 10,000 households, 10% above the U.S. rate of 15.6.

At $1,926 per household (2% below the U.S. average), households in California spend about $26.1B a year on vehicle insurance. That works out to $1.1M per agency, 11% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M.

Official counts show 13,919 businesses with payroll classed as insurance agencies and brokerages in California in 2023, down 4.0% from 2019. That is one for every 973 households, against one for every 966 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 1.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 352 SBA-backed loans worth $192.1M have gone to businesses classed as insurance agencies and brokerages in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #37 for insurance agencies, with a Groundwork market score of 34 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest (78). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Clearlake area scores highest (76).

Every market in California for insurance agencies

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 insurance agencies by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Merced, CA	78	87	10.1	$2M	+5.1%	#45 of 387
2Stockton-Lodi, CA	72	326	13.3	$1.6M	+5.5%	#70 of 387
3Yuba City, CA	71	76	12.3	$1.7M	+3.3%	#73 of 387
4Vallejo, CA	69	193	12.3	$1.7M	+0.6%	#85 of 387
5Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	65	2,142	14.8	$1.5M	+3.5%	#106 of 387
6Hanford-Corcoran, CA	64	55	12.5	$1.6M	+1.0%	#108 of 387
7Bakersfield-Delano, CA	62	369	13.0	$1.5M	+2.3%	#123 of 387
8Visalia, CA	57	213	14.9	$1.4M	+2.4%	#145 of 387
9Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	53	259	13.6	$1.5M	−0.4%	#168 of 387
10San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	50	150	13.7	$1.5M	0.0%	#181 of 387
11Salinas, CA	50	210	15.9	$1.3M	−1.5%	#185 of 387
12Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	49	143	14.8	$1.4M	−4.7%	#190 of 387
13Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	48	1,418	16.1	$1.2M	+3.2%	#198 of 387
14Napa, CA	43	72	14.5	$1.4M	−3.3%	#228 of 387
15Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	43	215	14.4	$1.4M	−1.4%	#230 of 387
16San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	41	1,102	16.2	$1.2M	−0.6%	#245 of 387
17Chico, CA	39	129	15.5	$1.2M	−0.5%	#251 of 387
18Fresno, CA	39	672	18.2	$1.1M	+3.2%	#255 of 387
19Modesto, CA	38	335	18.8	$1.1M	+0.7%	#264 of 387
20San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	34	2,640	15.1	$1.1M	−2.4%	#280 of 387
21Redding, CA	33	125	17.5	$1.1M	−0.3%	#289 of 387
22San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	29	2,032	17.3	$1.1M	−0.6%	#314 of 387
23El Centro, CA	26	101	20.3	$952K	+1.1%	#334 of 387
24Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	17	686	24.5	$868K	−1.5%	#374 of 387
25Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	15	9,193	20.4	$907K	−2.6%	#380 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for insurance agencies by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Clearlake, CA	76	17	6.3	$3.3M	−0.6%	#65 of 537
2Red Bluff, CA	69	20	8.1	$2.5M	−1.7%	#105 of 537
3Bishop, CA	68	5	6.2	$3.1M	−4.4%	#113 of 537
4Sonora, CA	66	20	8.8	$2.3M	−4.0%	#131 of 537
5Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	66	45	10.5	$2M	−0.4%	#133 of 537
6Crescent City, CA	64	8	8.4	$2.3M	−4.4%	#140 of 537
7Eureka-Arcata, CA	61	46	8.4	$2.2M	−3.4%	#171 of 537
8Susanville, CA	61	9	9.7	$2.1M	−13.1%	#172 of 537
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	60	16	7.4	$3M	+0.9%	#186 of 537
9Ukiah, CA	52	38	10.9	$1.7M	−3.5%	#242 of 537

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for insurance agencies by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba County, CA	87	10	3.5	$5.9M	+8.2%	#92 of 2,272
2Calaveras County, CA	81	13	7.1	$3.3M	+2.8%	#194 of 2,272
3San Benito County, CA	73	25	12.2	$2M	+8.6%	#393 of 2,272
4Lake County, CA	72	17	6.3	$3.3M	−0.6%	#407 of 2,272
5Merced County, CA	71	87	10.1	$2M	+5.1%	#439 of 2,272
6Yolo County, CA	69	73	9.5	$2M	+3.1%	#502 of 2,272
7Amador County, CA	66	18	11.2	$1.9M	+3.2%	#590 of 2,272
8Inyo County, CA	65	5	6.2	$3.1M	−4.4%	#605 of 2,272
9Colusa County, CA	65	6	8.0	$2.7M	−0.1%	#609 of 2,272
10Tehama County, CA	64	20	8.1	$2.5M	−1.7%	#643 of 2,272
11San Joaquin County, CA	64	326	13.3	$1.6M	+5.5%	#670 of 2,272
12Madera County, CA	63	65	14.3	$1.5M	+7.4%	#707 of 2,272
13Tuolumne County, CA	62	20	8.8	$2.3M	−4.0%	#713 of 2,272
14Solano County, CA	62	193	12.3	$1.7M	+0.6%	#727 of 2,272
15Riverside County, CA	62	1,076	13.9	$1.6M	+5.0%	#731 of 2,272
16Del Norte County, CA	60	8	8.4	$2.3M	−4.4%	#772 of 2,272
17Nevada County, CA	59	45	10.5	$2M	−0.4%	#798 of 2,272
18Kings County, CA	58	55	12.5	$1.6M	+1.0%	#848 of 2,272
19Humboldt County, CA	57	46	8.4	$2.2M	−3.4%	#862 of 2,272
20Siskiyou County, CA	56	18	9.4	$2.1M	−4.5%	#897 of 2,272
21Lassen County, CA	56	9	9.7	$2.1M	−13.1%	#898 of 2,272
22Kern County, CA	55	369	13.0	$1.5M	+2.3%	#962 of 2,272
23El Dorado County, CA	54	122	16.0	$1.4M	+0.6%	#996 of 2,272
24Tulare County, CA	52	213	14.9	$1.4M	+2.4%	#1,048 of 2,272
25San Bernardino County, CA	52	1,066	15.8	$1.4M	+1.9%	#1,050 of 2,272

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for insurance agencies by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Glenn County, CA	50	8	8.2	$2.6M	−2.6%	#1,099 of 2,272
27Sonoma County, CA	47	259	13.6	$1.5M	−0.4%	#1,219 of 2,272
28Mono County, CA	46	6	10.4	$1.9M	−5.4%	#1,237 of 2,272
29Mendocino County, CA	46	38	10.9	$1.7M	−3.5%	#1,241 of 2,272
30San Luis Obispo County, CA	45	150	13.7	$1.5M	0.0%	#1,278 of 2,272
31Monterey County, CA	45	210	15.9	$1.3M	−1.5%	#1,290 of 2,272
32Plumas County, CA	44	9	11.2	$1.7M	−5.9%	#1,305 of 2,272
33Sacramento County, CA	44	865	15.1	$1.3M	+2.0%	#1,331 of 2,272
34Santa Cruz County, CA	43	143	14.8	$1.4M	−4.7%	#1,357 of 2,272
35Alameda County, CA	41	781	13.1	$1.3M	−2.6%	#1,422 of 2,272
36Santa Barbara County, CA	40	215	14.4	$1.4M	−1.4%	#1,450 of 2,272
37Napa County, CA	39	72	14.5	$1.4M	−3.3%	#1,492 of 2,272
38Santa Clara County, CA	38	1,077	16.3	$1.2M	−0.9%	#1,539 of 2,272
39Contra Costa County, CA	38	730	17.6	$1.1M	+0.3%	#1,543 of 2,272
40Stanislaus County, CA	38	335	18.8	$1.1M	+0.7%	#1,546 of 2,272
41Butte County, CA	37	129	15.5	$1.2M	−0.5%	#1,574 of 2,272
42Fresno County, CA	37	607	18.7	$1M	+2.6%	#1,582 of 2,272
43Placer County, CA	36	358	22.7	$897K	+8.9%	#1,628 of 2,272
44Shasta County, CA	34	125	17.5	$1.1M	−0.3%	#1,682 of 2,272
45Sutter County, CA	33	66	19.8	$1.1M	−0.7%	#1,720 of 2,272
46San Mateo County, CA	32	460	17.4	$1.1M	−2.5%	#1,748 of 2,272
47San Diego County, CA	31	2,032	17.3	$1.1M	−0.6%	#1,776 of 2,272
48Imperial County, CA	30	101	20.3	$952K	+1.1%	#1,813 of 2,272
49Marin County, CA	22	187	18.2	$1M	−2.9%	#2,028 of 2,272
50Los Angeles County, CA	22	6,331	18.5	$973K	−3.0%	#2,032 of 2,272
51Ventura County, CA	21	686	24.5	$868K	−1.5%	#2,060 of 2,272
52San Francisco County, CA	20	482	13.2	$793K	−5.6%	#2,079 of 2,272
53Orange County, CA	17	2,862	26.4	$760K	−1.1%	#2,141 of 2,272
Mariposa County, CA	Not scored	4	5.3	$3.9M	−1.2%
Trinity County, CA	Not scored	1	1.8	$10.7M	−2.3%
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	2	6.1	$3.4M	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	1	8.2	$2M	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−11.6%

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

Questions

How many insurance agencies are in California?

As of September 2026, map listings count 23,237 insurance agencies in California. 4,785 of them (21%) are chain locations. The listings count insurance agencies. Official counts show 13,919 businesses with payroll classed as insurance agencies and brokerages in 2023, down 4.0% from 2019.

How much do households in California spend on vehicle insurance?

About $26.1B a year, or $1,926 per household. That is 2% below the U.S. average (an index of 98, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 23,237 insurance agencies on map listings, it comes to $1.1M per agency. 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 insurance agencies?

California has 17.2 insurance agencies per 10,000 households, 10% above the U.S. rate of 15.6. Spending per agency is $1.1M, 11% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the U.S. ratio of insurance agencies to household spending, California would have about 20,780, against 23,237 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 973 households, against one for every 966 across the U.S. The official count fell 4.0% from 2019 to 2023, against −1.0% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for insurance agencies?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest, at 78 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Clearlake area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 53 scored counties in California, Yuba County scores highest, at 87 (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 34 for insurance agencies (lower middle), #37 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 insurance agencies 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.

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Oil change and quick lube759 listings
Gas stations10,937 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in California?

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