Market rankings · California
Pet businesses in California
Every metro area, small-town market and county in California, ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 12,584
- 2,584 chain locations (21%)
- Official establishments
- 7,224
- +11.6% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $15.6B
- On pets
- Listings per 10k households
- 9.3
- 11% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1.2M
- 41% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #11 of 51
- Market score 68 · Upper middle
A site report maps the pet businesses on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
California has 12,584 pet businesses on map listings as of September 2026. Of those, 2,584 are chain locations, or 21%, against 17% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 9.3, 11% below the U.S. rate of 10.4.
Households in California spend about $15.6B a year on pets, or $1,149 per household, 26% above the U.S. average. That works out to $1.2M per business, 41% above the U.S. figure of $878K.
Official counts show 7,224 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in California in 2023, up 11.6% from 2019. That is one for every 1,875 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.4% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 393 SBA-backed loans worth $353M have gone to businesses classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in California.
Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #11 for pet businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 68 (upper middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Stockton-Lodi metro area scores highest (88). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Clearlake area scores highest (68).
Every market in California for pet businesses
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
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Stockton-Lodi, CA | 88 | 187 | 7.6 | $1.4M | +5.5% | #2 of 387 |
| 2Fresno, CA | 84 | 259 | 7.0 | $1.4M | +3.2% | #6 of 387 |
| 3Merced, CA | 82 | 68 | 7.9 | $1.1M | +5.1% | #10 of 387 |
| 4Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 81 | 1,361 | 9.4 | $1.1M | +3.5% | #12 of 387 |
| 5San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 80 | 493 | 7.3 | $2M | −0.6% | #13 of 387 |
| 6Visalia, CA | 80 | 106 | 7.4 | $1.2M | +2.4% | #15 of 387 |
| 7Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 80 | 228 | 8.0 | $1.1M | +2.3% | #16 of 387 |
| 8Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 79 | 25 | 5.7 | $1.6M | +1.0% | #17 of 387 |
| 9Yuba City, CA | 77 | 63 | 10.2 | $949K | +3.3% | #23 of 387 |
| 10Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 76 | 838 | 9.5 | $1.2M | +3.2% | #25 of 387 |
| 11El Centro, CA | 74 | 18 | 3.6 | $2.3M | +1.1% | #31 of 387 |
| 12Vallejo, CA | 74 | 154 | 9.8 | $1.2M | +0.6% | #34 of 387 |
| 13Modesto, CA | 73 | 157 | 8.8 | $1.1M | +0.7% | #39 of 387 |
| 14San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 69 | 1,444 | 8.3 | $1.6M | −2.4% | #54 of 387 |
| 15Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 66 | 3,908 | 8.7 | $1.3M | −2.6% | #72 of 387 |
| 16Salinas, CA | 63 | 124 | 9.4 | $1.2M | −1.5% | #93 of 387 |
| 17Napa, CA | 56 | 43 | 8.6 | $1.4M | −3.3% | #144 of 387 |
| 18San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 56 | 1,363 | 11.6 | $1M | −0.6% | #145 of 387 |
| 19Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 53 | 155 | 10.4 | $1.1M | −1.4% | #170 of 387 |
| 20Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 50 | 122 | 12.6 | $976K | −4.7% | #193 of 387 |
| 21Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 49 | 368 | 13.1 | $921K | −1.5% | #196 of 387 |
| 22Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 48 | 257 | 13.5 | $878K | −0.4% | #205 of 387 |
| 23Chico, CA | 48 | 92 | 11.0 | $836K | −0.5% | #209 of 387 |
| 24San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 32 | 186 | 17.0 | $658K | 0.0% | #324 of 387 |
| 25Redding, CA | 30 | 115 | 16.1 | $581K | −0.3% | #336 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Clearlake, CA | 68 | 31 | 11.5 | $753K | −0.6% | #70 of 527 |
| 2Crescent City, CA | 66 | 7 | 7.4 | $1.2M | −4.4% | #84 of 527 |
| 3Sonora, CA | 60 | 26 | 11.5 | $847K | −4.0% | #144 of 527 |
| 4Red Bluff, CA | 57 | 36 | 14.5 | $594K | −1.7% | #183 of 527 |
| 5Eureka-Arcata, CA | 54 | 60 | 10.9 | $789K | −3.4% | #221 of 527 |
| 6Bishop, CA | 49 | 13 | 16.2 | $580K | −4.4% | #293 of 527 |
| 7Truckee-Grass Valley, CA | 46 | 74 | 17.3 | $625K | −0.4% | #323 of 527 |
| 8Ukiah, CA | 44 | 47 | 13.5 | $673K | −3.5% | #343 of 527 |
| 9Susanville, CA | 38 | 14 | 15.1 | $565K | −13.1% | #400 of 527 |
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA | 38 | 47 | 21.6 | $500K | +0.9% | #403 of 527 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1San Benito County, CA | 90 | 22 | 10.7 | $1.2M | +8.6% | #6 of 2,200 |
| 2Yuba County, CA | 87 | 29 | 10.1 | $927K | +8.2% | #17 of 2,200 |
| 3San Joaquin County, CA | 86 | 187 | 7.6 | $1.4M | +5.5% | #19 of 2,200 |
| 4Merced County, CA | 84 | 68 | 7.9 | $1.1M | +5.1% | #39 of 2,200 |
| 5Fresno County, CA | 82 | 212 | 6.5 | $1.5M | +2.6% | #45 of 2,200 |
| 6Tulare County, CA | 81 | 106 | 7.4 | $1.2M | +2.4% | #57 of 2,200 |
| 7Kern County, CA | 81 | 228 | 8.0 | $1.1M | +2.3% | #59 of 2,200 |
| 8Sacramento County, CA | 80 | 452 | 7.9 | $1.4M | +2.0% | #68 of 2,200 |
| 9Riverside County, CA | 80 | 782 | 10.1 | $1.1M | +5.0% | #71 of 2,200 |
| 10Madera County, CA | 80 | 47 | 10.4 | $919K | +7.4% | #75 of 2,200 |
| 11Imperial County, CA | 79 | 18 | 3.6 | $2.3M | +1.1% | #78 of 2,200 |
| 12Kings County, CA | 79 | 25 | 5.7 | $1.6M | +1.0% | #79 of 2,200 |
| 13Santa Clara County, CA | 78 | 471 | 7.1 | $2.1M | −0.9% | #98 of 2,200 |
| 14San Bernardino County, CA | 78 | 579 | 8.6 | $1.2M | +1.9% | #102 of 2,200 |
| 15Alameda County, CA | 73 | 427 | 7.1 | $1.9M | −2.6% | #185 of 2,200 |
| 16Solano County, CA | 73 | 154 | 9.8 | $1.2M | +0.6% | #189 of 2,200 |
| 17Stanislaus County, CA | 73 | 157 | 8.8 | $1.1M | +0.7% | #191 of 2,200 |
| 18Placer County, CA | 72 | 198 | 12.5 | $994K | +8.9% | #223 of 2,200 |
| 19Calaveras County, CA | 72 | 27 | 14.6 | $685K | +2.8% | #236 of 2,200 |
| 20San Francisco County, CA | 71 | 261 | 7.2 | $1.9M | −5.6% | #238 of 2,200 |
| 21Contra Costa County, CA | 70 | 379 | 9.1 | $1.4M | +0.3% | #268 of 2,200 |
| 22Colusa County, CA | 70 | 7 | 9.3 | $1M | −0.1% | #273 of 2,200 |
| 23Sutter County, CA | 69 | 34 | 10.2 | $968K | −0.7% | #315 of 2,200 |
| 24Los Angeles County, CA | 68 | 2,776 | 8.1 | $1.3M | −3.0% | #339 of 2,200 |
| 25Yolo County, CA | 68 | 78 | 10.2 | $1.1M | +3.1% | #344 of 2,200 |
Show all 58 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Del Norte County, CA | 66 | 7 | 7.4 | $1.2M | −4.4% | #419 of 2,200 |
| 27San Mateo County, CA | 65 | 239 | 9.0 | $1.6M | −2.5% | #452 of 2,200 |
| 28Monterey County, CA | 65 | 124 | 9.4 | $1.2M | −1.5% | #456 of 2,200 |
| 29Orange County, CA | 62 | 1,132 | 10.5 | $1.2M | −1.1% | #568 of 2,200 |
| 30Lake County, CA | 62 | 31 | 11.5 | $753K | −0.6% | #590 of 2,200 |
| 31San Diego County, CA | 61 | 1,363 | 11.6 | $1M | −0.6% | #609 of 2,200 |
| 32Napa County, CA | 58 | 43 | 8.6 | $1.4M | −3.3% | #712 of 2,200 |
| 33Tuolumne County, CA | 58 | 26 | 11.5 | $847K | −4.0% | #723 of 2,200 |
| 34Santa Barbara County, CA | 57 | 155 | 10.4 | $1.1M | −1.4% | #758 of 2,200 |
| 35El Dorado County, CA | 56 | 110 | 14.4 | $836K | +0.6% | #812 of 2,200 |
| 36Butte County, CA | 56 | 92 | 11.0 | $836K | −0.5% | #813 of 2,200 |
| 37Ventura County, CA | 55 | 368 | 13.1 | $921K | −1.5% | #857 of 2,200 |
| 38Marin County, CA | 54 | 138 | 13.4 | $1.1M | −2.9% | #888 of 2,200 |
| 39Santa Cruz County, CA | 54 | 122 | 12.6 | $976K | −4.7% | #889 of 2,200 |
| 40Sonoma County, CA | 54 | 257 | 13.5 | $878K | −0.4% | #892 of 2,200 |
| 41Tehama County, CA | 52 | 36 | 14.5 | $594K | −1.7% | #1,018 of 2,200 |
| 42Humboldt County, CA | 49 | 60 | 10.9 | $789K | −3.4% | #1,133 of 2,200 |
| 43Amador County, CA | 49 | 26 | 16.2 | $626K | +3.2% | #1,161 of 2,200 |
| 44Inyo County, CA | 48 | 13 | 16.2 | $580K | −4.4% | #1,215 of 2,200 |
| 45San Luis Obispo County, CA | 43 | 186 | 17.0 | $658K | 0.0% | #1,392 of 2,200 |
| 46Glenn County, CA | 42 | 14 | 14.3 | $605K | −2.6% | #1,437 of 2,200 |
| 47Nevada County, CA | 41 | 74 | 17.3 | $625K | −0.4% | #1,474 of 2,200 |
| 48Shasta County, CA | 41 | 115 | 16.1 | $581K | −0.3% | #1,480 of 2,200 |
| 49Mendocino County, CA | 38 | 47 | 13.5 | $673K | −3.5% | #1,593 of 2,200 |
| 50Mariposa County, CA | 37 | 13 | 17.3 | $526K | −1.2% | #1,647 of 2,200 |
| 51Siskiyou County, CA | 34 | 23 | 12.1 | $682K | −4.5% | #1,749 of 2,200 |
| 52Lassen County, CA | 32 | 14 | 15.1 | $565K | −13.1% | #1,816 of 2,200 |
| 53Plumas County, CA | 30 | 12 | 14.9 | $608K | −5.9% | #1,860 of 2,200 |
| 54Trinity County, CA | 30 | 8 | 14.3 | $558K | −2.3% | #1,865 of 2,200 |
| Mono County, CA | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $1.6M | −5.4% | |
| Modoc County, CA | Not scored | 7 | 21.4 | $373K | −2.9% | |
| Sierra County, CA | Not scored | 1 | 8.2 | $1.1M | −4.0% | |
| Alpine County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −11.6% |
Markets with fewer than 5 pet businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many pet businesses are in California?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 12,584 pet businesses in California. 2,584 of them (21%) are chain locations. The listings count vets, groomers, boarding and pet stores. Official counts show 7,224 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in 2023, up 11.6% from 2019. Another 20,592 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in California spend on pets?
About $15.6B a year, or $1,149 per household. That is 26% above the U.S. average (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 12,584 pet businesses on map listings, it comes to $1.2M per business. 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 pet businesses?
California has 9.3 pet businesses per 10,000 households, 11% below the U.S. rate of 10.4. Spending per business is $1.2M, 41% above the U.S. figure of $878K. At the U.S. ratio of pet businesses to household spending, California would have about 17,726, against 12,584 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,875 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. The official count rose 11.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.4% for the U.S.
Which market in California has the highest market score for pet businesses?
Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Stockton-Lodi metro area scores highest, at 88 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Clearlake area scores highest, at 68 (upper middle). Among 54 scored counties in California, San Benito County scores highest, at 90 (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 68 for pet businesses (upper middle), #11 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 pet businesses 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.
Pet businesses in other states
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Top markets for pet businesses across the U.S. · All business types in California
Related business types in California
- Veterinarians4,095 listings
- Pet grooming and boarding4,099 listings
- Pet stores3,043 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.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.