Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · California

Best Places to Live in California

Every California county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. San Mateo County leads at 61/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, California ranks #41 for homesteading and #44 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in California

    How California treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 58 California counties, ranked

    1. 1San Mateo County61
    2. 2Humboldt County61
    3. 3Placer County59
    4. 4Mendocino County58
    5. 5Butte County57
    6. 6Shasta County56
    7. 7El Dorado County55
    8. 8Calaveras County54
    9. 9Tuolumne County54
    10. 10Tehama County54
    11. 11Sierra County53
    12. 12Yuba County53
    13. 13Nevada County53
    14. 14Glenn County53
    15. 15Lassen County53
    16. 16San Luis Obispo County52
    17. 17Sonoma County52
    18. 18Del Norte County51
    19. 19Trinity County51
    20. 20Monterey County50
    21. 21San Benito County50
    22. 22Plumas County49
    23. 23Lake County49
    24. 24San Diego County48
    25. 25Amador County48
    26. 26Siskiyou County47
    27. 27Napa County47
    28. 28Yolo County47
    29. 29Modoc County46
    30. 30Fresno County45
    31. 31Mono County45
    32. 32Ventura County43
    33. 33Sutter County42
    34. 34Tulare County41
    35. 35Madera County41
    36. 36Mariposa County41
    37. 37Colusa County41
    38. 38Marin County40
    39. 39Santa Barbara County39
    40. 40Merced County39
    41. 41Santa Cruz County37
    42. 42Santa Clara County37
    43. 43Stanislaus County34
    44. 44Kern County34
    45. 45Los Angeles County32
    46. 46Imperial County31
    47. 47Alpine County31
    48. 48Riverside County31
    49. 49Orange County26
    50. 50Kings County25
    51. 51Contra Costa County25
    52. 52San Joaquin County24
    53. 53Alameda County24
    54. 54San Francisco County22
    55. 55Sacramento County22
    56. 56Inyo County21
    57. 57San Bernardino County20
    58. 58Solano County19

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