Find a Job You Really Want In
Starting a new job can often leave you feeling overwhelmed, but some areas in California experience stress at a whole new level. Factors such as long commutes, extended work hours, and a challenging job market contribute to heightened anxiety. So, which cities in California rank as the most stressful in 2026?
According to our analysis, Huntington Park has the highest stress levels in California, leading a list of the top 10 most stressed cities:
Continue reading to discover more about the factors contributing to stress in these cities and the statistics that define their ranking.
For more California insights, check out:
How We Evaluated Stress Levels in California
To assess the stress levels across various cities, we analyzed key factors impacting residents’ well-being. Our methodology involved evaluating 428 locations in California, each with a population exceeding 5,000, based on data from the latest available American Community Survey:
- Percentage of residents with long commutes (over 30 minutes)
- Unemployment Rate
- Average hours worked per week
- Population density
- Percentage of income spent on housing
- Percentage of uninsured residents
The higher the values for these criteria, the more stressed the respective population is considered to be.
Each city was ranked from 1 to 428 based on their performance in these categories, with the lowest average indicating the highest stress levels.
Below, we delve into the standout statistics for the top 10 most stressed cities, concluding with a comprehensive ranking of all 428 locations analyzed.
1. Huntington Park
Population: 58,787 High Rent Residents: 66.5%
Long Commute Residents: 49.8%
Uninsured Residents: 32.7%
2. Cudahy
Population: 24,073 High Rent Residents: 60.6%
Long Commute Residents: 50.6%
Uninsured Residents: 36.0%
3. Bell
Population: 35,896 High Rent Residents: 65.4%
Long Commute Residents: 45.3%
Uninsured Residents: 32.6%
4. South Gate
Population: 95,515 High Rent Residents: 65.9%
Long Commute Residents: 45.9%
Uninsured Residents: 29.7%
5. El Monte
Population: 115,243 High Rent Residents: 66.2%
Long Commute Residents: 50.9%
Uninsured Residents: 29.5%
6. Lynwood
Population: 70,789 High Rent Residents: 66.3%
Long Commute Residents: 46.8%
Uninsured Residents: 32.3%
7. Compton
Population: 97,663 High Rent Residents: 64.7%
Long Commute Residents: 46.7%
Uninsured Residents: 24.4%
8. Bell Gardens
Population: 42,712 High Rent Residents: 65.1%
Long Commute Residents: 45.9%
Uninsured Residents: 35.9%
9. San Pablo
Population: 29,516 High Rent Residents: 61.6%
Long Commute Residents: 51.1%
Uninsured Residents: 23.0%
10. Inglewood
Population: 111,133 High Rent Residents: 61.6%
Long Commute Residents: 44.8%
Uninsured Residents: 25.4%
Detailed List of Stressed Cities in California
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Huntington Park | 1 |
| Cudahy | 2 |
| Bell | 3 |
| South Gate | 4 |
| El Monte | 5 |
| Lynwood | 6 |
| Compton | 7 |
| Bell Gardens | 8 |
| San Pablo | 9 |
| Inglewood | 10 |
Understanding the stress levels in these California cities highlights the ongoing challenges residents face in their daily lives. As the labor market continues to evolve, addressing these stressors will be essential for improving the overall quality of life in these communities.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
