2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Manteca

California (CA)
Best for: Central Valley households seeking suburban space and access to regional employment
Manteca CA 2027 livability
Small City
2027 CITY CLASSSmall City25,000–99,999 residents
Modern Livability67.8/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population96,693
Median Home$589,900
Median Rent$2,065
Median Household Income$97,055
Cost of LivingRPP 105.1 (US=100; BEA 2024; metro area)
Average Commute37.6 min (ACS 2020-2024)
Unemployment5.8% (ACS 2020-2024; civilian labor force)
Metro AreaStockton-Lodi, CA
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

67.8overall
Housing & Financial Reality63.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living63.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability68.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity71.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness76.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place66.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion59.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape70.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging81.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment59.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture65.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity73.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionACS average one-way commute: 37.6 minutes (2020-2024, excluding workers at home). Longer regional trips are a material daily-life tradeoff. This is a commute measure, not a live traffic-delay index.
Weekend EscapeMunicipal parks and recreation spaces support everyday outdoor activity. Regional trips depend on travel time and seasonal conditions.
WalkabilityCitywide Walk Score 42/100 (directory checked October 2026). Many errands require a car; selected centers may be more walkable.
Airport AccessStockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) is a regional air-travel option. Check the airport for current destinations; no drive-time estimate is assumed.
Outdoor AccessMunicipal parks and recreation spaces support everyday outdoor activity.
Healthcare AccessDoctors Hospital of Manteca provides a local or nearby hospital option. Check insurance networks, service availability and specialist access individually.
Air QualityAir quality changes by day and season. Check AirNow for local ozone and fine-particle conditions, particularly during heat or smoke events; no citywide annual AQI rating is assigned here.
Third Places / Social LifeManteca's parks and recreation facilities provide public gathering spaces. A growing residential city where local routines and long-distance commuting can produce very different experiences. The mix of libraries, cafes and community activities varies by neighborhood.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Growing: +2.5% population change from 2024 to 2025 (same Census vintage). This describes population only, not a forecast.
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Manteca has 96,693 residents in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate and is #358 in the incorporated-place population ranking used for this batch. The ACS 2020-2024 estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $589,900, median monthly gross rent of $2,065, and median household income of $97,055. These are survey-period estimates, not current listings or asking rents. Municipal parks and recreation spaces support everyday outdoor activity. Livability scores are provisional editorial assessments for review, not official Census ratings.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

A growing residential city where local routines and long-distance commuting can produce very different experiences.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Access to Doctors Hospital of Manteca; Municipal parks and recreation spaces support everyday outdoor activity.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

Long average commutes; summer heat; housing costs relative to local earnings; highway dependence.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Manteca ranks