FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Largest Survey of its Kind Finds San Joaquin Valley Households Squeezed by Rent, Food, and Utility Costs
MOVE the Valley’s 5,000-person survey shows deep economic strain across a region central to California’s political and economic future
San Joaquin Valley, CA — MOVE the Valley released the findings of San Joaquin Valley Speaks 2025, a comprehensive nine-county survey showing that basic needs, from rent and groceries to health care, utilities, and transportation, are stretching household budgets for families and residents across nine counties of the San Joaquin Valley. Home to more than 4.3 million people, the San Joaquin Valley represents roughly 11 percent of California’s population. San Joaquin Valley Speaks is the largest multi-generational, multilingual survey ever conducted in the region.
The survey, commissioned from Data for Social Good (DSG) came just weeks after Proposition 50 reshaped California’s political map, making Congressional Districts 22, 13, and 3 newly competitive. Because these districts often hinge on razor-thin margins, the findings offer an early look at the economic and political forces likely to shape the November 2026 general election.
“The trends over the last few years are unmistakable,” said Mai Thao, Executive Director of MOVE the Valley. “Families are doing everything right and still falling behind. When groceries, rent, and water bills take up most of a paycheck, the message is clear: affordability must be a shared priority, not a partisan issue.”
Cost-of-living pressures are stretching household budgets
More than half of Valley residents do not own their home — citing high rents, wages that don’t cover basic costs, and an inability to save for a down payment. Among renters and those living with family, 87 percent say homes are simply too expensive, while others point to unstable income, credit barriers, or a home-buying process they find inaccessible.
Six of the top ten concerns directly relate to cost-of-living pressures, including high grocery prices, rising rents, increasing home costs, and escalating utility bills. This tracks with federal data, showing grocery prices rose 2.7 percent year over year, with meats and eggs up more than 5 percent.
Housing affordability and availability continue to squeeze families from all sides. More than half of survey respondents are renters, who cite a shortage of affordable units and insufficient credit history is not strong enough for a loan. Homeowners report rising mortgage payments and utility costs. Nearly one-third of respondents say they live with extended family to share expenses. Almost 90 percent are concerned about eviction or foreclosure, and the majority of those respondents say they are not aware of available city or county resources.
“One of the most troubling red flags in the survey is that more and more residents do not believe owning a home is possible in their lifetime,” said José Luis Bedolla, who led the research with Data for Social Good. “In the Central Valley, as in the rest of California and the United States, homeownership has been a defining marker of the American Dream. When families start giving up on that goal, it tells us we’re heading toward deeper economic and social instability.”
Two-thirds of respondents say the economy has worsened in the past six months, and more than half personally know someone affected by recent federal program cuts. Notably, most San Joaquin Valley residents say they know how to contact their county supervisor, a rare indicator of high civic awareness in a region that has historically been underrepresented in statewide policymaking.
Immigration, safety, and community stability
Beyond economic strain, the survey reveals significant concerns around immigration enforcement and community safety.
51.4 percent of San Joaquin Valley respondents say they worry that someone they know could be detained by ICE.
61.4 percent believe their communities are less safe as a result of increased federal immigration enforcement.
A strong majority, 75 percent, support policies that would simplify legal immigration, reflecting a broad desire for stability and fair process.
Largest survey of its kind in the San Joaquin Valley
This survey was conducted in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi between August 26 and September 22, 2025 and reflects the lived experiences of families across one of California’s most economically diverse regions. The survey was conducted by Faith in the Valley, Hmong Innovating Politics, Jakara Movement, and Communities for a New California— four partner organizations that reached almost 5,000 survey respondents in just 18 days.
The survey supported Move the Valley’s work during the November 2025 special election. The coalition’s organizers reached out to more than 30,000 voters in just 14 days, one of the largest voter-contact operations in the entire Central Valley.
MOVE the Valley will use this data to educate media, elected leaders, community organizations, and candidates for local, state, and federal races about the economic pressures Central Valley residents are experiencing. The coalition plans to share the findings of the survey at an upcoming community town hall.
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About MOVE the Valley
MOVE the Valley (Mobilize, Organize, Vote, Empower) is a non-partisan multilingual, multi-ethnic, and intergenerational coalition of grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing civic participation in California’s Central Valley. MOVE’s member organizations work together to expand access to democracy, strengthen community leadership, and amplify the electoral voices of historically marginalized communities through coordinated outreach, education, and get-out-the-vote campaigns in nine counties in the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento areas.
About Data for Social Good
Data for Social Good is a research and data organization dedicated to addressing the needs of a diverse electorate. Working in partnership with community organizations, advocacy groups, and civic institutions, Data for Social Good designs and fields original research, surveys, focus groups, and statistical analysis, and translates the findings into clear, accessible tools that communities can act on. Its work centers the voices of communities that are frequently undercounted and under-consulted in mainstream polling.
For more information, view the San Joaquin Valley Speaks 2025 Poll Results
Media Contact
Luis Garcia
Luis@dataforsocialgood.com