Tri-Valley City Named 13th Best Small City In Country For Big Careers: Study

SAN RAMON, CA — San Ramon is the 13th best small city to launch a high-paying career, according to a study from coworking space website CoworkingCafe that uses information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Employment Analysis, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other sources, adjusted t0 2024 levels.

CoworkingCafe analyzed 298 U.S. cities with populations under 250,000 on a variety of metrics, including earning potential and affordability. According to the study, San Ramon is the fourth best small city in California for building a high-paying career, but remains noticeably more affordable than Silicon Valley suburbs like Palo Alto or Mountain View.

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, San Ramon’s median household income is about $197,000, well above state and national averages. A recent CoworkingCafe study, which uses its own inflation-adjusted figures for 2024, claims the city’s median income is $227,209, the second highest among America’s small cities.

The study also claims that the city has a per capita GDP of $168,000, based on Bay Area metropolitan statistical area numbers from the Bureau of Employment Analysis, and two Fortune 1000 employers. 99% of residents also have health care access, according to the American Community Survey. The survey also cited wage growth of 18% from 2019 to 2024 according to recent labor data, and a 69.9% labor force participation rate.

See here to read the whole study and learn more about the methodology.

The survey ranked Alpharetta, Georgia number one in the country, with a total score of 69.2. San Ramon was ranked 59.6, and received a score of 26.5 out of a possible 35j for Salary & Income, 15 out of 30 for Job & Market Strength, 14.2 out of 25 for Quality of Life & Amenities, and 3.5 out of 10 for Industry Presence.

Mountain View scored the highest in the Bay Area, and third in the country, with an overall score of 63.9. Santa Clara was fourth in the country, with a score of 63.6, followed by Palo Alto, with a score of 63. No other Bay Area cities made the top 20.

San Ramon has topped a number of recent surveys, most notably in June, when the U.S. Social Progress Map said it had the highest quality of life in the country based on metrics like health, education, and safety. Pleasanton was ranked second in the country.

In August, Niche ranked San Ramon as the best city in Contra Costa County and the second best city in the Bay Area to raise a family, based on online reviews and data from the Department of Education, the U.S. Census, the FBI, and more.

SEE ALSO:

• San Ramon, Pleasanton Have Highest Quality Of Life In Country: U.S. Social Progress Map
  
• San Ramon Best Place To Raise A Family In Contra Costa County, 2nd Best In Bay Area: Niche