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. Humboldt County leads at 60/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, California ranks #46 for homesteading and #46 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. 1Humboldt County60
    2. 2Placer County56
    3. 3Mendocino County56
    4. 4Shasta County56
    5. 5Nevada County55
    6. 6Lassen County54
    7. 7Butte County54
    8. 8Del Norte County53
    9. 9Sierra County51
    10. 10Tehama County51
    11. 11Trinity County51
    12. 12Calaveras County51
    13. 13Siskiyou County50
    14. 14Yuba County50
    15. 15Monterey County49
    16. 16Glenn County48
    17. 17Fresno County48
    18. 18San Luis Obispo County47
    19. 19Modoc County47
    20. 20Plumas County47
    21. 21El Dorado County46
    22. 22Amador County45
    23. 23Sonoma County45
    24. 24Mono County45
    25. 25Madera County44
    26. 26Colusa County44
    27. 27Sutter County44
    28. 28Mariposa County44
    29. 29Tuolumne County43
    30. 30Tulare County43
    31. 31Marin County42
    32. 32San Benito County41
    33. 33Santa Barbara County41
    34. 34San Diego County41
    35. 35Lake County39
    36. 36Santa Cruz County39
    37. 37Santa Clara County39
    38. 38Stanislaus County36
    39. 39San Mateo County35
    40. 40Merced County35
    41. 41Yolo County35
    42. 42Napa County35
    43. 43Alpine County31
    44. 44Kern County31
    45. 45Imperial County30
    46. 46Los Angeles County28
    47. 47Kings County27
    48. 48Orange County27
    49. 49Contra Costa County27
    50. 50San Joaquin County26
    51. 51Alameda County25
    52. 52San Francisco County23
    53. 53Sacramento County23
    54. 54Ventura County23
    55. 55Inyo County23
    56. 56Solano County22
    57. 57San Bernardino County17
    58. 58Riverside County6

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