1,165 nursing homes in California
Medicare and Medicaid certified, with CMS star ratings.
- nursing homes
- 1,165
- average CMS stars
- 3.2
- certified beds
- 114,991
- for profit
- 87%
How California nursing homes rate
CMS rates 1,154 of California's 1,165 certified nursing homes. The average overall rating is 3.2 stars.
| Overall rating | Nursing homes |
|---|---|
| 5 of 5 | 280 |
| 4 of 5 | 250 |
| 3 of 5 | 235 |
| 2 of 5 | 210 |
| 1 of 5 | 179 |
| Not rated | 11 |
The top-rated nursing homes in California
Sorted by overall stars, then health inspection stars, staffing and size.
| Nursing home | City | Overall | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Medical Center D/P SNF | San Leandro | 5 of 5 | 109 |
| Friendship Manor Nursing & Rehab Center | National City | 5 of 5 | 104 |
| Morton Bakar Center | Hayward | 5 of 5 | 97 |
| Merced Behavioral Center | Merced | 5 of 5 | 96 |
| Marian Regional Medical Center D/P SNF | Santa Maria | 5 of 5 | 95 |
| Lakeside Special Care Center | Lakeside | 5 of 5 | 94 |
| Petaluma Post-Acute Rehabilitation | Petaluma | 5 of 5 | 90 |
| Community Memorial Continuing Care Center | Ojai | 5 of 5 | 75 |
| Pacifica Nursing and Rehabilitation Center | Pacifica | 5 of 5 | 68 |
| Greenridge Post Acute | El Sobrante | 5 of 5 | 60 |
Nursing homes by city
The cities with the most certified nursing homes in California.
- Los Angeles 78 homes
- Long Beach 25 homes
- Sacramento 23 homes
- San Diego 21 homes
- Fresno 19 homes
- San Jose 19 homes
- Oakland 18 homes
- Riverside 18 homes
- San Francisco 18 homes
- Hayward 16 homes
- Anaheim 14 homes
- Stockton 14 homes
- Glendale 13 homes
- Pasadena 13 homes
- El Cajon 12 homes
Who owns them
| Ownership | Nursing homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| For profit | 1,014 | 87% |
| Non-profit | 118 | 10% |
| Government | 33 | 3% |
Inspections and fines
At the most recent standard inspection, California's homes were cited for 18,026 deficiencies, an average of 15.6 each. 5 had none. 452 homes were fined $27,221,500 over 3 years.
Special focus facilities and abuse flags
115 homes carry the CMS abuse icon. 5 are special focus facilities and 30 are candidates: homes with a long record of serious problems that CMS inspects more often.
How to read a CMS star rating
One star is much below average and five stars much above, compared with other homes in the same state. Look at the health inspection stars first, then read the citations.
Questions families ask about California
How many nursing homes are in California?
1,165 certified by CMS.
What is the best rated nursing home in California?
We don't pick one. Alameda County Medical Center D/P SNF in San Leandro tops the CMS sort with 5 stars.
Will Medicare pay for a nursing home in California?
For up to 100 days of skilled care after a 3-day hospital stay, not for long-term custodial care. A shared room has a median of $12,167 a month here.
What does a CMS star rating mean?
How a home compares with others in the same state, from inspections, staffing and quality.
From the federal record: CMS Provider Information, October 2026 release.