2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Turlock

California (CA)
Best for: Residents seeking an established Central Valley community
Turlock CA 2027 livability
Small City
2027 CITY CLASSSmall City25,000–99,999 residents
Modern Livability67.6/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population72,864
Median Home$460,600
Median Rent$1,612
Median Household Income$82,995
Cost of LivingRPP 104.1 (US=100; BEA 2024; metro area)
Average Commute26.2 min (ACS 2020-2024)
Unemployment8.4% (ACS 2020-2024; civilian labor force)
Metro AreaModesto, 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.

67.6overall
Housing & Financial Reality68.0

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

Ease of Living79.0

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

Safety & Stability59.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity64.0

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

Health & Wellness72.0

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

Beauty & Sense of Place65.0

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

Mobility & Congestion66.0

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

Nature & Escape65.0

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

Diversity & Belonging74.0

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

Climate & Environment65.0

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

Community & Culture65.0

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

Infrastructure & Connectivity68.0

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: 26.2 minutes (2020-2024, excluding workers at home). Workplace location and departure time still determine individual travel. This is a commute measure, not a live traffic-delay index.
Weekend EscapeDonnelly Park provides local recreation and public gathering space. Regional trips depend on travel time and seasonal conditions.
WalkabilityCitywide Walk Score 46/100 (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 AccessDonnelly Park provides local recreation and public gathering space.
Healthcare AccessEmanuel Medical Center 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 LifeTurlock's parks and recreation facilities provide public gathering spaces. A valley city with neighborhood streets and a compact central district. The mix of libraries, cafes and community activities varies by neighborhood.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Broadly stable: -0.0% population change from 2024 to 2025 (same Census vintage). This describes population only, not a forecast.
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Turlock has 72,864 residents in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate and is #531 in the incorporated-place population ranking used for this batch. The ACS 2020-2024 estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $460,600, median monthly gross rent of $1,612, and median household income of $82,995. These are survey-period estimates, not current listings or asking rents. Donnelly Park provides local recreation and public gathering space. Livability scores are provisional editorial assessments for review, not official Census ratings.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

A valley city with neighborhood streets and a compact central district.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Access to Emanuel Medical Center; Donnelly Park provides local recreation and public gathering space.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

Summer heat, car dependence and high home values relative to local income.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Turlock ranks