Benicia 68 Good
Benicia Livability #266 ranked city in California#8,932 ranked city in the USARanks better than 69% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Benicia

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    The combination of higher than average median home income, income per capita and low unemployment rates results in a score that is well above average in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Based on the most recent cost of living data, this area is more expensive to live in. You can expect to pay more for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries and utilities.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Benicia?

Benicia, California is a medium-sized city with a population of 29,204 inhabitants. The majority of Benicia residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Benicia offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 36 minutes.

Are you trying to decide if living in Benicia is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in California, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like cost of living, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Benicia and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Benicia to California and the national average.

The livability score in Benicia is 68 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 69th percentile of all cities across America. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Benicia has higher than average grades for the following: crime (A-), education (B-) and housing (B+). The bad news for Benicia, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F) and cost of living (F).

Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Benicia gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 134 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.

Unemployment rates can vary significantly among cities, impacting job prospects, wage levels and the overall economic health of an area. In Benicia, the unemployment rate stands at 2.3%, suggesting increased job opportunities and a heightened demand for workers. This scenario can lead to higher wages, as the demand for employees outpaces job availability. Importantly, a low unemployment rate often signifies a robust and flourishing local economy.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Benicia excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Benicia is real estate affordability. The median home price for Benicia homes is $1,081,801, which is 47.9% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Benicia, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.7, which is 13% lower than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Benicia

See all the best places to live around Benicia

How Do You Rate The Livability In Benicia?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Benicia, CA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Benicia transportation information

      Statistic Benicia California National
      Average one way commute36min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.7%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.2%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit5.0%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.1%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home11.4%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Benicia, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.