California’s Top 10 Favorite Places to Live

California has some great places to live. California is a popular destination for Americans seeking a new home for a variety of reasons, including the state’s unrivaled inland beauty, year-round sunny beaches, and thriving urban centers.

Moving to a state that is almost 164,000 square miles would be an understatement. As someone who lives in California, I can help you choose the best places to live in this huge state.

1. San Diego

San Diego is one of the top cities in California and a popular tourist destination in the United States. People who work from home, surf, and raise families all live in this beach city. It’s an excellent idea to relocate to San Diego if you have children because the city is home to several educational and recreational opportunities, as well as hundreds of parks, a zoo, museums, and other attractions.

Adults also love the area because there are so many places to eat, shop, and go out at night. San Diego is a beautiful city that many people in California want to live in. The only problem is that the cost of living is higher than average.

2. Sonoma

Sonoma City is in the middle of Sonoma Valley, which is known for making wine. This town in Northern California is less crowded than other big cities in California, and it has both a city and a small town feel. Sonoma is steeped in history, from its colonial-era plaza to its adobe structures and the ancient Mission San Francisco Solano, which was formerly an outpost for the Mexican army.

3. Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the second most populated city in the U.S., but don’t be scared off by its big numbers. The “City of Angels” has more than 3 million people living in it and is 34,000 square miles big.

Los Angeles is the most popular place to visit in the United States and one of the best places to live in California. The city boasts a plethora of everything, including public and private educational institutions, places to party, things to do, tourist destinations, parks, and libraries.

4. Redlands

Redlands is regarded as one of the state of California’s top residential areas. This city in San Bernardino County is home to the University of Redlands, which is known all over the country, and a cute college town. Redlands has community events almost every day of the week, like car shows, farmer’s markets, concerts, and events in public parks. Redlands is a great place for a family to live in Southern California. It is close to Los Angeles.

5. Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a mountain town in Northern California. The lake is the largest alpine lake in North America, and the village is built around it. This is the perfect place for people who love the outdoors and don’t mind the cold. Lake Tahoe is between the high Sierra Mountain peaks and the border of Nevada. It has a real California winter with lots of snow.

6. Santa Monica

Santa Monica is close to downtown Los Angeles and is a great place to live if you like to go to the beach. You can find high-end shopping malls and great places to eat, as well as clean public parks and beaches.

In this part of Los Angeles County, the Santa Monica-Malibu School District has 17 public schools. Adults like Santa Monica’s nightlife, but kids also like the area because it’s close to the beach.

7. Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a great place to stop on your ultimate road trip through California, and it’s also one of the best places to live in the state. This beach town with a Spanish style is not too far from surfing paradise.

Most of the people who live in Santa Barbara surf, like the beach, or go to college. One of the best colleges in California is UC Santa Barbara, and the downtown area of the city is made for students.

8. San Francisco

The cost of living is high in the central business district of San Francisco, although there are less expensive places to live on the outskirts of the city. San Francisco is the place to go in Northern California to shop, eat, see tourist attractions, go to the beach, or take a bay cruise.

9. San Jose

Silicon Valley in San Jose is a place where business people and entrepreneurs go every year. Silicon Valley is a great place for technology-focused workers who want to move for their careers. It is home to big companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google.

A lot of people who want to buy a house end up in San Jose because of the pleasant climate, the security of the area, and the abundance of outdoor activities. Even though the city is not cheap, it is much cheaper than nearby San Francisco.

10. Irvine

Many people who are moving to California want to live in Orange County. Irvine is in the perfect place. It is close to the beach and in the middle of a lot of schools and shopping centers.

Irvine is a big city in Orange County with a lot of people. It has a great city life, a good university, and a lot of jobs. People who want to move to the Golden State often think about Irvine because it is close to a lot of big businesses.