Last Updated: October 2026

🏆 Top 25 Nursing Homes in California

View our comprehensive rankings of the highest quality facilities in California, based on CMS data, staffing, safety, and quality measures.

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California at a Glance

1,423
Total Facilities
3.2
Average Rating
0.67
Avg RN Hours/Day
36.9%
Avg Turnover Rate

CMS Star Rating Distribution

(5-Star)
241
16.9%
(4-Star)
199
14.0%
(3-Star)
207
14.5%
(2-Star)
180
12.6%
(1-Star)
161
11.3%

About Nursing Homes in California

California has 1,423 Medicare-certified nursing homes with an average quality rating of 3.2 stars. 241 facilities (16.9%) earn the top five-star rating. Facilities in California average 0.67 RN hours per resident per day, exceeding the national average of 0.64 hours.

Staff turnover averages 36.9% across California facilities, below the national average of 46.8%. Lower turnover rates are associated with better continuity of care and higher quality ratings.

All nursing homes in California are regulated by state and federal agencies, undergo regular CMS inspections, and must meet federal quality standards. Use our search tool to compare facilities based on Medicare ratings, staffing levels, quality measures, and safety records.

Nursing Home Costs in California

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Statewide Average

Nursing home costs in California average $385-$499 per day ($11,550-$14,970/month) for skilled nursing care, which is 35% above the national median according to the 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey.

Most facilities accept Medicare for short-term rehabilitation (up to 100 days), private insurance, and Medicaid for eligible residents.

Cost Variation by Metro Area

We have city-level cost data for 23 metro areas in California. Costs can vary significantly by location:

Bakersfield
$350-$405/day ($10,500-$12,150/month)
Chico
$328/day (semi-private, ~$9,840/month)
Fresno
$337-$400/day ($10,110-$12,000/month)
Hanford
$385-$405/day ($11,550-$12,150/month)
Los Angeles
$347-$450/day ($10,410-$13,500/month)
Merced
$312-$345/day ($9,360-$10,350/month)

+ 17 more metro areas with cost data

Calculate detailed costs for California →

Browse by City in California

View nursing homes in specific cities across California. Each city page shows facilities ranked by quality.

LOS ANGELES
84 facilities
LONG BEACH
28 facilities
SACRAMENTO
22 facilities
FRESNO
22 facilities
SAN DIEGO
22 facilities
RIVERSIDE
20 facilities
SAN JOSE
20 facilities
SAN FRANCISCO
18 facilities
OAKLAND
18 facilities
STOCKTON
18 facilities
PASADENA
17 facilities
HAYWARD
17 facilities
Sacramento
15 facilities
ANAHEIM
14 facilities
EL CAJON
14 facilities
TORRANCE
13 facilities
GLENDALE
13 facilities
MODESTO
12 facilities
EL MONTE
12 facilities
SANTA MONICA
12 facilities
SAN BERNARDINO
11 facilities
REDDING
11 facilities
BAKERSFIELD
11 facilities

🏆 Top 10 Nursing Homes by City

See our expert rankings of the best facilities in major cities across California.

Top 10 in LOS ANGELESTop 10 in LONG BEACHTop 10 in SACRAMENTOTop 10 in FRESNOTop 10 in SAN DIEGOTop 10 in RIVERSIDETop 10 in SAN JOSETop 10 in SAN FRANCISCOTop 10 in OAKLANDTop 10 in STOCKTON

All Nursing Homes in California

Filter and sort facilities below. Default ranking uses our composite quality score, which combines CMS ratings, staffing quality, safety records, and compliance history.

Showing 1000 of 1000 facilities in California

Villa Marin

100 THORNDALE DRIVE, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94903

Phone: (415)492-2408

Distance: 0 miles | Beds: 31 | Est. Occupancy: 50% (~16 available)

NonprofitCMS Rating: 5/5 Stars

SAN FRANCISCO TOWERS

1661 PINE STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109

Phone: (415)447-5505

Distance: 0 miles | Beds: 27 | Est. Occupancy: 55% (~12 available)

NonprofitCMS Rating: 5/5 Stars
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Search All California Facilities

Use our advanced search to find facilities by location, ratings, and specific criteria

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How Does California Compare?

Explore nursing home quality in neighboring states and regions:

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National State Rankings

See where California ranks among all 50 states for quality, staffing, and safety.

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Strong RN Staffing

California averages 0.67 RN hours/day, above the national average of 0.64 hours.

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Low Staff Turnover

California's 36.9% turnover is below the national average of 46.8%.

📚 Expert Guides to Evaluating Nursing Homes

Learn how to interpret quality ratings and staffing metrics with our data-driven guides based on 14,751 facilities nationwide.

The Truth About Star Ratings

Only 18.9% of facilities earn 5 stars. Learn what ratings really mean and how to use them effectively.

Read Guide →

Understanding Staffing Levels

California averages 0.67 RN hours/day. Learn what staffing metrics reveal about care quality.

Read Guide →

Facility Tour Checklist

Essential questions to ask and red flags to watch for when visiting California facilities.

Read Guide →

Warning Signs of Neglect

Critical red flags that indicate neglect, abuse, or substandard care at any facility.

Read Guide →
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Decoding CMS Data

Learn how to read health inspections, quality measures, and compliance reports.

Read Guide →
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All Expert Guides

Browse our complete library of nursing home evaluation resources.

View All →