Moving to California? The 10 Best Places to Live in The Golden State

Is West Coast sunshine calling your name? From the rolling hills of Northern California’s wine country to the sandy beaches of Southern California’s oceanfront, the Golden State’s natural beauty and range of outdoor activities are simply unmatched. So if you’re California dreamin’, here’s a look at the 10 best cities to call home in this exceptionally large and diverse state.

Fremont

Fremont is one of the most popular places to call home in the San Francisco Bay Area – and we can certainly see why. With its friendly, healthy and affluent residents, this highly sought after community was recently named the number one happiest place to live in America by WalletHub, and the 11th best city in America for job seekers by NerdWallet. Due to its low crime rate, stable housing market and sunny weather, Fremont is also “exceptionally livable,” according to AreaVibes.
Population: According to Fremont’s town website, the city has an estimated population of 226,551 people.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Fremont was $950,000. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

Irvine

Located in California’s Orange County, the affluent city of Irvine is known for its booming job market, family-friendly atmosphere, safe environment and beautiful weather. In addition, AreaVibesclaims Irvine is “exceptionally livable” because of its high number of amenities and stable housing market. According to WalletHub, this Southern California city also happens to be the third happiest place to live in America.
Population: Irvine has an estimated population of 212,375, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Irvine was $950,000. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

Los Angeles

A city for dreamers, this sprawling Southern California metropolis offers something for everyone. From the Hollywood Walk of Fame to numerous iconic Hollywood production studios, Los Angeles is also the center of the United States’ booming film and entertainment industry. In addition, the city ranks highly by AreaVibes for its numerous big city amenities, sunny weather and stable housing market. Los Angeles is the perfect place for those who enjoy the great outdoors, world-class restaurants and a true cosmopolitan vibe.
Population: The City of Los Angeles has an estimated population of around 4 million people and is California’s most populous city, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Los Angeles was $825,000. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

Mill Valley

Located 14 miles north of San Francisco, Mill Valley is considered “exceptionally livable” by AreaVibes due to its A+ amenities, stable housing market and low crime rates. The city’s many parks, beautiful surroundings and close proximity to a major urban center have made this city a popular choice for San Francisco commuters. Recently, Mill Valley received attention for being one of the safest cities in California, as well as for having some of the state’s most distinguished schools.
Population: Mill Valley has an estimated population of 13,903, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Mill Valley was $1.6M. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

Palo Alto

While owning a home in Palo Alto is sure to cost you a pretty penny, residents of this Northern California city will tell you the price is well-worth the money. The city at the center of Silicon Valley is home to numerous booming companies, family-friendly museums and a top-rated school district. AreaVibes gives Palo Alto high ratings across the board for its sunny weather, great amenities, fabulous education system and exceptionally low crime rates. In addition, Livability also recently named Palo Alto the 10th best city in America for families.
Population: Palo Alto has an estimated population of 64,403, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Palo Alto was $2.4M. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

San Diego

Known for its warm climate, outstanding restaurants, and surfable beaches, San Diego is without a doubt one of the best coastal cities to call home in California. According to WalletHub, it is also the seventh happiest place to live in America. U.S. News says with San Diego’s wide range of outdoor activity options, distinct neighborhoods, high quality of life and healthy job market, the city is the 22nd best place to live in the country. AreaVibes claims San Diego is “extremely livable,” with lots of local amenities, sunny weather and a stable housing market.
Population: With an estimated population of 1,339,000, San Diego is the second largest city in California and eighth largest in the country, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in San Diego was $680,000. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

San Francisco

From the Golden Gate Bridge to the iconic cable cars, San Francisco is one of America’s most beloved cities. Those looking for a bustling urban environment, top restaurants and a thriving job market will find it in San Francisco. Recently, the City by the Bay was named the fourth happiest place to live in America, and the 34th best city in the U.S. for job seekers. AreaVibes also gives high marks to San Francisco for its stable housing market, high income per capita, weather and A+ amenities.
Population: With an estimated population over 860,000, San Francisco is the fourth most populated city in California, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in San Francisco was $1.3M. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

San Jose

Those searching for a happy and healthy place to call home will find it in San Jose. In fact, according to WalletHub’s latest study, this California city is the second happiest place to live in America, ranking first in the U.S. for overall emotional and physical well-being. According to AreaVibes, the city is “extremely livable” as well because of its A+ amenities, sunny weather and stable housing market. The city’s strong job market and impressive population growth are an additional two reasons why San Jose was named the third best place to live in America in 2017 by U.S. News.
Population: With an estimated population of 1,000,536, San Jose is the 10th largest city in the United States, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in San Jose was $788,000. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

Santa Monica

Year-round sunny weather, walkable streets and close-proximity to Los Angeles make this Southern California town a fantastic beach community for its residents. Livability.com has named Santa Monica a top 100 place to live in America for several years. In 2016, the city’s vibrant downtown was also included in Livability’s top 10 best downtowns list. Despite a pricey housing market, Santa Monica attracts a wide-ranging demographic with its high-end amenities, spectacular beaches and warm temperatures, according to AreaVibes. 
Population: Santa Monica has an estimated population of 89,736, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Santa Monica was $2M. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

Santa Rosa

Oenophiles and foodies alike will find what they’re looking for in Santa Rosa’s beautiful wine country. Located just north of San Francisco, this laid-back city offers a “very livable” place to call home according to AreaVibes. Santa Rosa boasts amazing restaurants, fabulous shopping, a stable housing market, sunny weather and a slew of high-end amenities. WalletHub also ranked Santa Rosa as the ninth happiest place to live in America because of its residents’ healthy emotional and physical well-being.
Population: Santa Rosa has an estimated population of 167,815, according to World Population Review.
Median Home Price: At the time this article was written, the median listing price for a home in Santa Rosa was $599,000. For more information, check Realtor.com’s housing market profile.

To make one of these California cities your new home, you’ll need the right moving company for the job. Check out Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers – all licensed and insured. Good luck and happy moving!

Comments

  1. Elizabeth J. NealApril 3, 2019 at 3:04 AM

    I really impressed after read this because of some quality work and informative thoughts . I just wanna say thanks for the writer and wish you all the best for coming!. playa del rey movers

    ReplyDelete
  2. StevenHWickerApril 9, 2019 at 2:19 AM

    Thanks for this. I really like what you've posted here and wish you the best of luck with this blog and thanks for sharing. Moving Company Irvine

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Moving & Packing Supplies do We Need for Moving?

Image
Choosing the right packing supplies is essential step for a successful move.  You need to make sure you have enough moving boxes and moving supplies in order to pack your belongings properly. Your household items should arrive at your new home without a scratch, so do not underestimate the packing process.  It is a quite time consuming and annoying job, but you have to do it precisely. Starting with your packing supplies moving list you need to make sure you have all your belonging secured, especially if you are moving long distance. First of all, you have to decide if you are packing yourself, or you are using a moving company to do it for you. Every option has its pros and cons. You can start your  search for professional movers here . Where to Buy Moving Supplies There are many options. Start by checking Craigslist for used moving supplies. There are many people that give away their moving boxes for free. This way you will save money and keep the environment c...
Read more

How To Keep From Injuring Yourself During The Move:

Image
Ask any emergency room doctor, moving day (and the days building up to the move) can be dangerous. If you take the right precautions, though, you can prevent that trip to the emergency room. Save Your Back Your back is one of the most vulnerable parts of your body, and we’ve seen people tweak their backs after lifting small boxes, not just heavy furniture. Remember to always lift from the knees, not from the back. Also, it’s a good idea to use a back brace on moving day. Save Your Knees After running up and down stairs, and back and forth to and from my car, our last moving day just about killed my knees, and they take months to heal. Knee pads and knee braces can be lifesavers during a move. At the very least, invest in some sleeves to help support your knees. Save Your Ankles Ankles rarely give you any notice before you injure them, so it’s important to be very careful. Don’t move too fast. Take slow, deliberate steps when carrying things. If you are the one who gets ...
Read more

What Are the Average Hourly Moving Costs?

Image
Whether you realize it or not, the move distance plays a major role when you’re moving to a new house or apartment. In relation to the distance between the two homes, you’ve got LOCAL MOVING : moving just across the street, moving within the same town or city, or moving to another place within the same state; CROSS-COUNTRY (INTERSTATE) MOVING : moving to another town or city in a different state in the country; INTERNATIONAL MOVING : moving to another country. And while the difficulty of the relocation will increase proportionally to the move distance, so will the cost of the residential move itself. When you’re moving locally, you need to remember that the moving company you hire will charge you  by the hour . What that basically means is that if you’re familiar with the average cost of movers per hour, you’ll be able to calculate roughly how much you will pay in the end. What are the average hourly moving costs? Hiring local movers by the hour Hiring professio...
Read more