RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 576

Most sparsely populated, California cities · 1990

California cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 576 cities in California that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Lemoore Station, CACA6,1750−100%

02California City, CACA13,30029−29%

03Bear Valley Springs, CACA5,91235−68%

04Acton, CACA7,88035−42%

05Murrieta, CACA114,12445−97%

06Durham, CACA5,34059−8%

07Valley Center, CACA11,11963−77%

08Mojave, CACA5,17364−2%

09Oakhurst, CACA6,09178−9%

10Joshua Tree, CACA6,234108−7%

11Truckee, CACA17,278109−75%

12Yosemite Lakes, CACA5,288113−43%

13Cottonwood CDP (Shasta County), CACA7,408127−43%

14Jamul, CACA6,574128−64%

15El Dorado Hills, CACA51,026132−65%

16Wilton, CACA6,433133−15%

17Rosamond, CACA21,473143−48%

18San Martin, CACA6,954151−59%

19Big Bear City, CACA11,431154−15%

20Prunedale, CACA19,723158−56%

21Rosedale, CACA18,877160−45%

22Adelanto, CACA38,798161−53%

23Diamond Springs, CACA10,927173−41%

24Thousand Palms, CACA7,720175−19%

25Palermo, CACA5,266180−8%

26Mammoth Lakes, CACA6,867192−33%

27Rancho Murieta, CACA5,875197−44%

28Twentynine Palms, CACA25,939201−20%

29Hidden Valley Lake, CACA5,872208−46%

30Shafter, CACA23,871217−34%

31Mecca, CACA7,184284−64%

32Lincoln, CACA57,367300−35%

33Calimesa, CACA11,111312−35%

34Beaumont, CACA60,835319−15%

35La Quinta, CACA39,440322−52%

36Blythe, CACA15,042325−29%

37Templeton, CACA9,580338−43%

38Ramona, CACA22,634339−17%

39Yucca Valley, CACA21,887344−19%

40Lathrop, CACA42,783345−35%

41Alpine, CACA15,180362−26%

42Coto de Caza, CACA15,190366−78%

43Lake Arrowhead, CACA10,639370−27%

44Taft, CACA6,995386−8%

45Rancho Mirage, CACA17,876387−26%

46Desert Hot Springs, CACA34,009387−30%

47Oroville East, CACA7,504392−3%

48San Diego Country Estates, CACA10,223410−26%

49Elk Grove, CACA185,007410−71%

50Palm Springs, CACA45,315425−6%

51Woodside, CACA5,181439−6%

52Wildomar, CACA37,889443−25%

53Nuevo, CACA6,803443−27%

54Thermalito, CACA6,720445−7%

55Williams, CACA5,529451−39%

56Oak Park, CACA13,757466+6%

57Nipomo, CACA17,516472−44%

58Lake Elsinore, CACA75,067478−37%

59Pollock Pines, CACA6,212498−9%

60Avenal, CACA13,479501−33%

61Rio Vista, CACA10,523502−27%

62Brentwood, CACA66,607509−68%

63McKinleyville, CACA17,113515−21%

64Golden Hills, CACA9,891518−24%

65Barstow, CACA24,804519+2%

66Chowchilla, CACA18,730535−47%

67Victorville, CACA141,395553−36%

68Wrightwood, CACA5,067557−14%

69Lakeland, CACA12,236558−13%

70Tehachapi, CACA11,852565−47%

71Coachella, CACA45,411565−26%

72Apple Valley, CACA75,247598−15%

73Crestline, CACA9,835618−16%

74Chino Hills, CACA77,519618−59%

75San Jacinto, CACA56,014627−32%

76Cambria, CACA5,978639−14%

77Magalia, CACA7,389641−15%

78Palmdale, CACA161,845650−41%

79Imperial, CACA22,330652−46%

80Interlaken, CACA8,068653−13%

81Perris, CACA83,237680−41%

82Woodcrest, CACA17,368684−7%

83Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), CACA7,361686−12%

84Hesperia, CACA102,605694−19%

85Yreka, CACA7,714696−5%

86Calipatria, CACA6,012722−63%

87Temecula, CACA114,865729−53%

88Madera Acres, CACA9,846732−32%

89Cherry Valley, CACA6,668742+1%

90Homeland, CACA7,584785−10%

91Loomis, CACA7,004785−9%

92Rancho San Diego, CACA21,272802−65%

93Lake Los Angeles, CACA13,051819−31%

94Los Altos Hills, CACA8,419829−5%

95Hilmar-Irwin, CACA6,132835−32%

96Big Bear Lake, CACA5,018857−2%

97Oroville, CACA20,451861−8%

98Palm Desert, CACA53,259868−44%

99Rancho Santa Margarita, CACA45,779881−76%

100Banning, CACA31,852885−13%

101Atascadero, CACA29,464896−12%

102Delhi, CACA11,009900−61%

103El Granada, CACA5,232901−23%

104Susanville, CACA12,816919−46%

105Mentone, CACA9,514929−27%

106Ben Lomond, CACA6,858942+234%

107El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CACA31,626942−23%

108Rio Linda, CACA16,335955−9%

109Discovery Bay, CACA14,911957−40%

110Rocklin, CACA76,821961−48%

111Highgrove, CACA8,366987−8%

112Jackson, CACA5,100989−11%

113St. Helena, CACA5,1941,007−16%

114La Habra Heights, CACA5,3271,011+9%

115Roseville, CACA167,3021,014−44%

116Lancaster, CACA170,0841,032−18%

117Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CACA6,4731,044−6%

118Oak View, CACA6,1411,059−14%

119Cameron Park, CACA18,3151,060−18%

120Folsom, CACA91,9831,069−43%

121Blackhawk, CACA10,1371,073–

122Aliso Viejo, CACA49,8441,099−81%

123McFarland, CACA14,7091,105−27%

124Patterson, CACA26,5871,108−26%

125Indio, CACA94,2691,109−25%

126Poway, CACA49,1801,114−9%

127Redding, CACA94,0921,118−18%

128Colusa, CACA6,5191,131−9%

129Vandenberg, CACA6,7761,133+3%

130Galt, CACA26,9641,136−54%

131Oakley, CACA47,5831,149−29%

132Olivehurst, CACA18,4441,157−12%

133Chico, CACA105,0811,161−33%

134Yucaipa, CACA54,9531,162−20%

135Bakersfield, CACA422,1651,163−29%

136Clearlake, CACA16,8931,165−10%

137Anderson, CACA11,1311,180−8%

138Coalinga, CACA17,2811,199−30%

139Fowler, CACA7,7451,200−19%

140Hemet, CACA93,6491,233−39%

141Alamo, CACA14,4881,251−21%

142Firebaugh, CACA8,7741,259−23%

143Fallbrook, CACA32,1121,261−24%

144American Canyon, CACA22,7731,268−21%

145Valle Vista, CACA18,6021,269−17%

146Tracy, CACA101,9011,274−41%

147Larkfield-Wikiup, CACA8,7651,277−9%

148Orinda, CACA19,5071,295−5%

149Wasco, CACA26,5251,310−42%

150North Auburn, CACA13,4801,323−13%

151Ridgecrest, CACA28,3331,329+11%

152Cathedral City, CACA52,3751,339−29%

153West Sacramento, CACA56,2161,346−9%

154Live Oak, CACA9,4661,384−31%

155Paradise, CACA10,0231,387−4%

156Aptos, CACA6,4041,398−2%

157Ripon, CACA16,1401,400−27%

158Rancho Cordova, CACA87,5541,410−11%

159Ione, CACA9,2821,423−9%

160Half Moon Bay, CACA11,2871,424−25%

161Atherton, CACA6,9601,428−0%

162Placerville, CACA10,6851,431−13%

163Lakeport, CACA5,0591,436−9%

164Westlake, CACA7,5051,437−11%

165Los Banos, CACA49,6141,452−44%

166Cloverdale, CACA8,7011,464−28%

167Dixon, CACA21,1161,465−35%

168Auburn, CACA13,8471,476−15%

169Madera, CACA69,0171,487−32%

170Santa Clarita, CACA228,4301,503−27%

171Lemoore, CACA27,2911,507−31%

172Grass Valley, CACA14,0351,509−17%

173Linda, CACA23,8711,519−3%

174Dublin, CACA71,6021,525−23%

175Lake of the Pines, CACA5,4611,539−2%

176Delano, CACA52,3341,547−41%

177Bermuda Dunes, CACA7,9711,549−27%

178Lafayette, CACA25,3131,564−2%

179Porterville, CACA63,0881,578−25%

180San Marcos, CACA94,9081,586−29%

181Soledad, CACA26,3571,602−37%

182Tulare, CACA73,9071,608−24%

183Mira Monte, CACA6,8881,608+8%

184Arcata, CACA19,0471,614−9%

185Winters, CACA8,2141,615−23%

186Kerman, CACA17,5531,622−36%

187Red Bluff, CACA14,4041,635−6%

188Fortuna, CACA12,0031,647−18%

189Corning, CACA8,2601,655−13%

190Yuba City, CACA69,4851,656−25%

191Carlsbad, CACA112,2601,669−19%

192Redlands, CACA74,1281,677−5%

193Tiburon, CACA8,8811,678−13%

194Irvine, CACA318,7641,682−23%

195Norco, CACA25,0811,682−4%

196Orland, CACA8,3811,685−20%

197Hughson, CACA8,0511,710−18%

198Hanford, CACA62,2291,717−26%

199El Cerrito, CACA5,3251,726−2%

200Hillsborough, CACA11,2061,730−1%

201Danville, CACA43,3021,732−25%

202Novato, CACA51,9471,739−0%

203Ojai, CACA7,4741,748−3%

204Santa Fe Springs, CACA18,7931,752−11%

205San Ramon, CACA86,2091,760−21%

206Corcoran, CACA22,3581,779−8%

207Heber, CACA7,3121,787−14%

208Windsor, CACA25,8641,798−41%

209San Juan Capistrano, CACA35,1191,814−23%

210Riverbank, CACA26,5571,815−46%

211Morro Bay, CACA10,6131,836−5%

212Morgan Hill, CACA45,6251,849−29%

213Highland, CACA57,6141,854−23%

214Fairfield, CACA122,4891,857−20%

215Commerce, CACA11,6881,858−3%

216Scotts Valley, CACA11,6521,866−24%

217Thousand Oaks, CACA122,2301,888−11%

218Dinuba, CACA25,9491,900−24%

219Manteca, CACA96,6931,904−17%

220Gilroy, CACA60,7641,904−24%

221Clayton, CACA10,8421,905−32%

222Keyes, CACA5,5771,906−35%

223Benicia, CACA26,4011,907−9%

224Corona, CACA161,7341,908−39%

225Oakdale, CACA23,2461,921−23%

226Arvin, CACA19,8201,927−28%

227Kingsburg, CACA13,2491,935−22%

228Newman, CACA12,4531,936−41%

229Escalon, CACA7,3941,946−26%

230Clovis, CACA129,3471,947−27%

231Solvang, CACA5,9441,955−11%

232Kentfield, CACA6,9001,973−6%

233Visalia, CACA146,5411,982−17%

234Livingston, CACA14,6901,991−30%

235Loma Linda, CACA25,2211,991−7%

236Woodlake, CACA8,0731,993−15%

237Soquel, CACA10,6791,999+81%

238Mendota, CACA12,7782,010−14%

239King City, CACA14,0022,011−31%

240Chino, CACA96,9572,018−11%

241Fontana, CACA221,2232,023−32%

242Waterford, CACA9,2582,023−31%

243Rodeo, CACA8,9762,025−13%

244Salida, CACA13,9002,029−64%

245Earlimart, CACA7,2142,041−10%

246Canyon Lake, CACA11,1132,042−20%

247Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CACA12,0852,049−10%

248Moorpark, CACA35,0232,077−19%

249Gustine, CACA6,1122,091−16%

250Pleasanton, CACA74,5562,094−21%

251Fort Bragg, CACA6,9462,104−13%

252Myrtletown, CACA5,3222,104−1%

253Willows, CACA6,1162,111−4%

254Ladera Heights, CACA7,3342,130−4%

255Antioch, CACA118,9582,132−31%

256Livermore, CACA83,4572,136−23%

257Healdsburg, CACA11,1722,142−12%

258South Lake Tahoe, CACA21,1152,144−9%

259San Dimas, CACA32,9782,155−7%

260Rolling Hills Estates, CACA7,9482,178+1%

261Rancho Cucamonga, CACA177,8562,180−21%

262Pismo Beach, CACA7,9112,193−10%

263Saratoga, CACA30,4182,196−6%

264Calexico, CACA38,6232,201−31%

265Buellton, CACA5,1582,216−8%

266Gridley, CACA7,2582,219−14%

267Fremont, CACA226,4422,219−15%

268Seal Beach, CACA24,0752,220+4%

269Crescent City, CACA6,0022,231+9%

270San Clemente, CACA62,2262,239−18%

271La Cañada Flintridge, CACA19,4802,245−5%

272Orangevale, CACA35,9582,294−2%

273Moreno Valley, CACA214,2632,315−17%

274Palo Alto, CACA67,6092,324−5%

275Brawley, CACA28,0082,339−14%

276Los Gatos, CACA32,5762,368−4%

277Vacaville, CACA103,8502,393−19%

278Lamont, CACA13,1642,403−13%

279Simi Valley, CACA124,8612,412−10%

280Hollister, CACA45,6952,413−44%

281Merced, CACA99,7242,417−12%

282Arroyo Grande, CACA18,1232,421−9%

283Hayward, CACA157,1132,433−20%

284Gonzales, CACA8,3132,436−38%

285Claremont, CACA35,8382,437−4%

286Glendora, CACA49,6712,451−3%

287Fair Oaks, CACA32,7992,470−4%

288Muscoy, CACA12,0252,480−15%

289Selma, CACA24,7022,484−24%

290Winton, CACA11,7972,486−14%

291Bloomington, CACA25,6982,490−22%

292Bonita, CACA12,6522,500+1%

293Greenfield, CACA21,1382,511−41%

294Turlock, CACA72,8642,512−24%

295Martinez, CACA36,8492,534−11%

296Quartz Hill, CACA11,5102,559−3%

297Colton, CACA53,3832,573−16%

298El Centro, CACA44,3822,590−17%

299Woodland, CACA62,5132,599−19%

300Brea, CACA47,2602,599−7%

301Laguna Beach, CACA22,3912,605−2%

302Agoura Hills, CACA19,2432,615−1%

303Corte Madera, CACA9,9292,618−9%

304Monrovia, CACA38,2642,623−3%

305Hercules, CACA26,3262,624−14%

306Yorba Linda, CACA65,6322,627−11%

307San Bernardino, CACA222,0442,644−11%

308Camarillo, CACA68,6522,657−8%

309Santa Rosa, CACA179,4372,664−23%

310Ontario, CACA187,0132,664−16%

311Santa Maria, CACA111,3902,687−21%

312Pittsburg, CACA77,5422,691−16%

313Newark, CACA47,8952,720−11%

314Chula Vista, CACA275,5332,723−22%

315Mill Valley, CACA13,7992,726−4%

316East Porterville, CACA5,0662,729−14%

317Farmersville, CACA10,3262,755−29%

318Ceres, CACA48,9822,770−24%

319Union City, CACA65,2822,772−20%

320Riverside, CACA323,0572,791−11%

321El Segundo, CACA16,3792,794−5%

322Newport Beach, CACA81,9772,800−5%

323Florin, CACA50,2112,801−12%

324Menlo Park, CACA32,7132,803−9%

325Eureka, CACA25,3042,806+3%

326Palos Verdes Estates, CACA12,5592,829+1%

327Reedley, CACA26,9822,835−24%

328Lindsay, CACA12,5782,862−19%

329Huron, CACA7,3942,869−24%

330Castro Valley, CACA65,0012,886−15%

331Encinitas, CACA60,7362,906−5%

332Escondido, CACA146,0302,909−19%

333Richmond, CACA114,8612,910−12%

334Los Alamitos, CACA11,7022,913+1%

335San Rafael, CACA59,4102,918−14%

336Sanger, CACA27,2282,920−11%

337Exeter, CACA10,1222,936−21%

338Sonoma, CACA10,5372,960−11%

339Marina, CACA23,2562,967+5%

340Rio del Mar, CACA9,2012,973−3%

341Pacifica, CACA36,8902,994−2%

342Petaluma, CACA59,6882,996−21%

343Rialto, CACA106,5543,005−21%

344Laguna Niguel, CACA64,1073,013−28%

345Dos Palos, CACA5,6973,024−11%

346Villa Park, CACA5,6453,033+5%

347Fairview, CACA10,7453,041−4%

348Cotati, CACA7,3473,049−12%

349Fresno, CACA555,5493,058−17%

350Ukiah, CACA16,0683,063−6%

351Walnut Creek, CACA70,0123,065−6%

352Duarte, CACA22,8663,084−4%

353Rancho Palos Verdes, CACA39,6543,092+1%

354Grand Terrace, CACA12,9363,107−6%

355Fairfax, CACA7,4173,111−5%

356Oceanside, CACA170,4833,111−20%

357San Luis Obispo, CACA50,6363,115−5%

358Orange Cove, CACA9,8113,127−27%

359Carmichael, CACA76,9483,176−2%

360El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CACA16,2943,182−20%

361El Rio, CACA6,3683,186+4%

362Santee, CACA58,2053,199−0%

363Parlier, CACA14,6223,212−28%

364Walnut, CACA27,3163,238−3%

365Lompoc, CACA43,3153,239−8%

366Rowland Heights, CACA45,9113,261−12%

367Strawberry CDP (Marin County), CACA5,8303,291−17%

368Garden Acres, CACA10,6673,308−12%

369Stockton, CACA324,5973,343−13%

370Oildale, CACA34,6873,357−5%

371East Hemet, CACA20,2573,387+19%

372Atwater, CACA32,1333,393−4%

373Coronado, CACA21,0943,400+10%

374San Diego, CACA1,406,1063,406−9%

375Redwood City, CACA82,1783,417−12%

376Pinole, CACA18,5433,421−8%

377Napa, CACA76,5623,427−15%

378San Marino, CACA11,9643,441+0%

379Cupertino, CACA58,3333,551−20%

380Marysville, CACA12,7383,558+0%

381Vallejo, CACA123,2873,588−6%

382Diamond Bar, CACA51,8843,607−5%

383Fillmore, CACA16,9373,633−12%

384Concord, CACA123,2613,643−9%

385Sierra Madre, CACA10,6203,647+2%

386La Verne, CACA30,1783,669−2%

387Larkspur, CACA12,6203,691−8%

388Monterey, CACA28,9533,696+8%

389Sebastopol, CACA7,5323,722−10%

390Sacramento, CACA536,4493,744−9%

391Milpitas, CACA78,5963,760−19%

392Lodi, CACA69,1003,792−9%

393Solana Beach, CACA12,6023,797−0%

394Modesto, CACA219,6523,799−13%

395Signal Hill, CACA11,1533,824−10%

396Vista, CACA98,2743,834−20%

397Santa Cruz, CACA61,7973,849−10%

398Oceano, CACA7,1284,016−15%

399Los Altos, CACA30,9654,022−5%

400Sausalito, CACA7,0194,054−2%

401Upland, CACA79,4464,067−7%

402Foothill Farms, CACA36,4354,080−2%

403Mission Viejo, CACA90,4844,123−22%

404Guadalupe, CACA8,8464,182−3%

405Holtville, CACA5,5914,217−14%

406San Buenaventura (Ventura), CACA109,9144,232−8%

407Azusa, CACA47,4474,278−8%

408Orange, CACA138,3654,311−14%

409Seaside, CACA31,6364,359+23%

410San Anselmo, CACA12,5554,390−5%

411Santa Barbara, CACA86,4224,391−7%

412San Jose, CACA989,8144,396−13%

413Arcadia, CACA54,1174,419−9%

414Pleasant Hill, CACA34,0174,464−4%

415Carson, CACA90,8084,484−6%

416Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CACA19,7654,485+63%

417East Pasadena, CACA5,4794,487−2%

418Emeryville, CACA13,2514,509−17%

419Santa Paula, CACA31,7744,532−12%

420Tustin, CACA77,8434,557−25%

421Watsonville, CACA50,7164,583−30%

422Port Hueneme, CACA20,9874,602−7%

423Salinas, CACA159,1344,626−28%

424Davis, CACA66,1104,634−23%

425Live Oak, CACA16,9114,691−9%

426Hacienda Heights, CACA54,2914,695−1%

427North Highlands, CACA47,9574,780−5%

428San Carlos, CACA29,2614,835−6%

429Country Club, CACA10,1614,864−1%

430Dana Point, CACA32,2324,918−9%

431La Crescenta-Montrose, CACA19,6604,950−8%

432Rohnert Park, CACA44,8114,986−14%

433Altadena, CACA41,7055,039+0%

434August, CACA8,8255,076−18%

435Home Gardens, CACA10,5065,082−18%

436Fullerton, CACA138,6755,091−9%

437San Leandro, CACA85,3535,121−14%

438Santa Clara, CACA133,4465,122−9%

439Montclair, CACA37,5635,141−14%

440Kensington, CACA5,1795,160+1%

441Castroville, CACA6,7205,164−22%

442La Mirada, CACA45,9525,170−14%

443Rosemont, CACA23,7665,209−0%

444Belmont, CACA28,7525,211−4%

445Anaheim, CACA341,0085,298−19%

446Whittier, CACA85,8155,302−7%

447Carpinteria, CACA12,7345,312−3%

448Sunnyvale, CACA156,5775,314−11%

449Oxnard, CACA199,6515,357−17%

450Burbank, CACA102,9885,408−7%

451Boyes Hot Springs, CACA7,2475,584−11%

452Beverly Hills, CACA30,7645,601−5%

453Pacific Grove, CACA14,6595,624+4%

454Mountain View, CACA85,4385,641−5%

455Suisun City, CACA29,4545,664−13%

456Lakeside CDP (San Diego County), CACA22,4475,688+101%

457Pomona, CACA147,8075,731−12%

458Pasadena, CACA135,8045,731−2%

459La Riviera, CACA11,4925,782+7%

460Arden-Arcade, CACA94,9945,791−4%

461La Mesa, CACA59,9145,822−3%

462East San Gabriel, CACA23,4105,850−12%

463South San Francisco, CACA64,9415,901−10%

464Glendale, CACA187,1605,907−8%

465Fountain Valley, CACA55,5085,919−2%

466West Covina, CACA105,3015,992−9%

467Costa Mesa, CACA108,8816,096−11%

468Cerritos, CACA46,3676,101+3%

469Burlingame, CACA31,9296,101−5%

470El Cajon, CACA101,7556,113−7%

471Placentia, CACA54,9116,129−11%

472Covina, CACA49,4046,142−8%

473Imperial Beach, CACA25,2066,180−2%

474Lemon Grove, CACA27,9366,183−4%

475El Cerrito, CACA26,1216,228−1%

476Piedmont, CACA10,6426,236−3%

477Millbrae, CACA22,8696,244−1%

478Avocado Heights, CACA12,5936,345−6%

479Rossmoor, CACA11,5326,346−4%

480Capitola, CACA9,3406,381+1%

481View Park-Windsor Hills, CACA11,2306,393+7%

482Cypress, CACA48,7816,449−8%

483Torrance, CACA138,3916,488−4%

484Buena Park, CACA81,7416,534−12%

485San Lorenzo, CACA29,1716,562−9%

486Stanford, CACA18,6626,581+36%

487West Athens, CACA8,7266,626−3%

488Oakland, CACA440,8386,652−7%

489Huntington Beach, CACA191,4516,727−4%

490La Habra, CACA60,9086,782−13%

491East Foothills, CACA7,1397,004+83%

492South Pasadena, CACA25,5037,021−1%

493San Mateo, CACA103,3377,045−8%

494Bostonia, CACA16,7657,098−10%

495San Bruno, CACA42,3057,098−3%

496Pico Rivera, CACA58,9157,117−7%

497Laguna Hills, CACA30,0207,137+50%

498Montebello, CACA60,6937,152−4%

499South El Monte, CACA18,9637,331−1%

500Alameda, CACA76,8767,353+6%

SHOWING 1–500 OF 576

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES