You likely had some very fond memories of childhood that you want to pass on to your children. You also likely have things you would change if you could. So what are some important factors to think about when you do start thinking about where to raise your children?
Crime levels, the quality of schools, and proximity to other children for your kids to make close friendships with are probably some of the key aspects to think about when deciding where to raise your family. The first decision to make is what state to raise your family in. Well, that is an easy one: California.
California is one of America’s most famous states and for a good reason. Who wouldn’t want to grow up under the palm trees, walking up and down the streets of San Francisco or San Diego, and hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail? California has something for everyone. You can be a surfer, a climber, a city-dweller, or even just a cafe-hopper. But within California, there are certain cities that stand out for families. These cities are both affordable and packed with family-friendliness. HomeSnacks has figured out the answer to those questions for you based on the most Census and FBI data.
So strap on your rollerblades, get your matcha, pull up the mini van, and read on to see which places in California offer the most for starting a family.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In California For 2026
We analyzed 347 cities in California to determine which one was the best for families. This ranking was made by analyzing which cities were the most “family-friendly,” or which states had the least crime, the best schools, and the most fun activities.
What’s the best place for families in California? If you haven’t heard of Moorpark, California, then keep reading, because this is the best city for families in California for 2026.
Moorpark is packed with everything families need and love. You can even travel to Mexico for an international dining experience if you want.
Want to see how your favorite city or hometown in California stacked up? Read on to learn more about our methodology and to see what makes each of our top ten cities for families so great.
More reading about California and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In California For 2026
/10
Population: 35,854
Median Income: $148,480
Average Home Price: $939,094
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Oxnard
Households with kids: 38.2%
More on Moorpark: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Why? Moorpark has one of the highest percentages of families with kids on our list, so there will be plenty of kids to play with when you move here.
And when you need a place to let your kids burn some energy, look no further than this Ventura County city: they have over 20 parks!
There are also plenty of high paying jobs, great schools, and it’s crazy safe.
Located in slightly northwest of Los Angeles, Moorpark should be California’s poster city for family friendly. #GoodWork
/10
Population: 76,960
Median Income: $190,124
Average Home Price: $1,601,646
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Fremont
Households with kids: 38.8%
More on Pleasanton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,216
Median Income: $214,167
Average Home Price: $2,837,216
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Los Angeles
Households with kids: 36.1%
More on San Marino: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
San Marino scored a 9.5/10 on or snackability scale with an emphasis on low crime, education, and family friendly amenities.
This family friendly city comes with a price tag. You are going to have to get a job at one of their many companies. According to the job research site, Zippia, top employers in software, banking, and engineering have been keeping San Marino families employed, entertained, and happy.
/10
Population: 16,769
Median Income: $216,193
Average Home Price: $1,666,829
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Oakland
Households with kids: 37.7%
More on Moraga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Moraga had one of the highest scores on our snackability scale: a big ‘ol 10/10. They scored strong across all criteria, but they made the most magic happen with a 10/10 in education and a 10/10 for housing. The residents, here, are smart, hard-working Californians.
Moraga scored an 8.5/10 in terms of jobs. The household median income, here, is $116,000/year. With that income, the less time Moraga residents have to worry about those “bill’ things; thus, the more time they have to spend with their families.
/10
Population: 30,319
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $4,189,622
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: San Jose
Households with kids: 32.8%
More on Saratoga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 32,786
Median Income: $217,554
Average Home Price: $2,705,289
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 33
Closest Major City: San Jose
Households with kids: 33.7%
More on Los Gatos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
This city in Santa Clara County is a family friendly San Jose-burb with tons of family friendly things to do.
Surrounded by multiple state and county parks, this Northern California tech community has amazing shopping, art galleries, museums, and it’s just a stone’s throw away from the coast.
And if you’re stressed about where to send your kids to school, you can stop now. Los Gatos has multiple blue ribbon elementary schools and golden apple secondary schools.
/10
Population: 70,186
Median Income: $113,428
Average Home Price: $924,929
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Oxnard
Households with kids: 30.0%
More on Camarillo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Located slightly northwest of Los Angeles, and just a hop, skip, and a jump from the coast, Camarillo has something for everyone. Amazing food, 26 parks, and facilities like aquatic centers, BMX tracks, equestrian centers, and skateparks.to name a few, dot the city’s landscape.
Camarillo is famous for sticking to tradition. So if you’re looking for a city with quaint, quiet neighborhoods, idyllic community parades and gatherings, and residents who want to keep the city in the hands of its people, Camarillo is your city.
/10
Population: 67,237
Median Income: $231,101
Average Home Price: $3,722,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: Fremont
Households with kids: 32.8%
More on Palo Alto: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
This city in Santa Clara County scored off the charts in housing, education, and family friendly amenities.
And for all of those parents who don’t want their kids to fly the coop for college, Palo Alto University and Sofia University are located in this tech hub’s backyard.
And speaking of tech hub, the median household income for Palo Alto is $152,000/year. That’s a whole lot of opportunity for families to earn that vacation cheddar.
/10
Population: 92,151
Median Income: $136,123
Average Home Price: $1,229,743
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Irvine
Households with kids: 29.5%
More on Mission Viejo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
We think they are on the right track because they scored one of the highest snackability scores on our list: a whopping 10/10!
We believe that for a city to be truly family friendly, it needs to be safe, hip, diverse, and it has to have a ton of family friendly activities. They scored an 8.5/10 for safety, an 8.5/10 for diversity, and a 10/10 for amenities.
Mission Viejo’s goal is to “Make Living Your Mission”. We think you’re doing just that.
/10
Population: 14,012
Median Income: $206,212
Average Home Price: $2,073,166
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Oakland
Households with kids: 29.3%
More on Mill Valley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in California anyways?
To give you the places in California that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of California, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For California, that meant a total of 347 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in California.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In California
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in California ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in California are Moorpark, Pleasanton, San Marino, Moraga, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Camarillo, Palo Alto, Mission Viejo, and Mill Valley.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles California according to the data:
- Clearlake
- Grass Valley
- Anderson
For more California reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In California
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moorpark, CA | 35,854 | $148,480 | $939,094 | 53 |
| 2 | Pleasanton, CA | 76,960 | $190,124 | $1,601,646 | 40 |
| 3 | San Marino, CA | 12,216 | $214,167 | $2,837,216 | 45 |
| 4 | Moraga, CA | 16,769 | $216,193 | $1,666,829 | 58 |
| 5 | Saratoga, CA | 30,319 | $250,001 | $4,189,622 | 56 |
| 6 | Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | $217,554 | $2,705,289 | 35 |
| 7 | Camarillo, CA | 70,186 | $113,428 | $924,929 | 63 |
| 8 | Palo Alto, CA | 67,237 | $231,101 | $3,722,200 | 42 |
| 9 | Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | $136,123 | $1,229,743 | 36 |
| 10 | Mill Valley, CA | 14,012 | $206,212 | $2,073,166 | 40 |