The 10 Best Places To Live In California For 2026


The best places to live in California for 2026 are Los Altos, Cupertino, and Saratoga. Find out where your city or town ranks.

California is such a great place to live that the best places to live in California would probably qualify as some of the best places to live in the world.

So what does it take to earn a place in the state’s upper echelon of cities? We looked at several factors from the FBI, Census, and Zillow with Saturday Night Science. The best places in California all share one attribute — wealth.

The places that made the list of the best in California are primarily around San Francisco in Silicon Valley. While housing certainly isn’t cheap, big tech salaries might make it possible for you to afford a place to live.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary


What is the best place to live in California for 2026? The best place to live in California for 2026 is Los Altos.

To be clear, the price of real estate in these cities is steep — with median home prices above $500,00 and median incomes over $100,000.

But the reward is worth it if you can afford it.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In California For 2026

Best Places To Live In California Map

Los Altos, CA

Source: Wikipedia User User:Kelly | GFDL
Stat Los Altos California
Population 30,698 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $4,713,314 $774,581
Median Income $250,001 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 4.8% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0124 0.0257

More on Los Altos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Los Altos, one of many Silicon Valley representatives to make the cut this year. Unsurprisingly, residents of Los Altos are highly educated, with over half of folks having a master’s degree or higher. Bigger degrees lead to bigger paychecks, which leaves the residents of Los Altos in the comfortable position of earning around $250,001/year. So, while the $4,713,314 price tag on homes in Los Altos is quite expensive, the overall cost of living is actually quite reasonable.

If you want to settle down in Los Altos for good, you’re in luck because the local schools scored an average of 9/10 on GreatSchools. On top of that, Los Altos has the 15th lowest rate of violent crime in California.

With all of these awesome features, it’s unsurprising that the Los Altos Farmer’s Market is one of the city’s top attractions. If your shopping needs fall outside the purview of a farmer’s market, Santana Row in San Jose is just a fifteen minute drive away.

Cupertino, CA

Source: Wikipedia User Coolcaesar at en.wikipedia | GFDL
Stat Cupertino California
Population 58,566 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $3,189,451 $774,581
Median Income $234,707 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 4.0% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0162 0.0257

More on Cupertino: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Ever wonder why Cupertino is the default option for weather on the iPhone? That’s because, in addition to being the 2nd best place to live in California, Cupertino is also the home of Apple’s Headquarters. Being the hub of a tech behemoth like Apple, it’s no surprise that Cupertino’s population of 58,566 is hyper-educated, with more than 40% of residents having a master’s, Ph.D, or professional degree.

All that extra time in school really pays off, because folks in Cupertino enjoy a median household income of $234,707/year, which you’ll need to pay off the $3,189,451 mortgage. Only 3.2% of people are on SNAP and 1.8% of people are without health insurance, so you know the residents of Cupertino aren’t struggling to get by.

We all know you can’t really consider yourself a part of the elite unless you’re a wine snob, so be sure to get in on the culture at one of the several vineyards in the Cupertino area.

Saratoga, CA

Source: Public domain
Stat Saratoga California
Population 30,319 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $4,189,622 $774,581
Median Income $250,001 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 4.0% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0066 0.0257

More on Saratoga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Saratoga is a city of 30,319 located on the western side of the Santa Clara Valley. Of all the San Jose suburbs, Saratoga is the closest to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California’s oldest state park and home to the largest stand of redwoods south of San Francisco. That oughta satisfy even the most voracious nature-lover.

Public schools is Saratoga received a 9/10+ on GreatSchools, so you know kids get off to a good start growing up here. Which obviously translates into greater success in later life, seeing as over 40% of residents have a master’s degree or higher. One good thing leads to another, because residents of Saratoga earn a median household income of $250,001, the 4th highest in Cali.

Add to that the 16th lowest rate of crime statewide and the 9th largest percentage of insured residents, and you’ve got a recipe for the 3rd best place to call home in California.

Villa Park, CA

Source: Wikipedia User Jeaniac | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Villa Park California
Population 5,748 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $2,343,977 $774,581
Median Income $202,245 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 2.9% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0073 0.0257

More on Villa Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Located in Orange County to the east of Anaheim and north of Santa Ana is our 4th best place to live in California – Villa Park. While the main draw of the town may be its proximity to major cities, it also offers a lot of high quality shopping options in the Towne Centre, restaurants, and local amenities.

But really stands out about Villa Park? The near absence of crime. The city has the 3rd lowest rate of violent crime in the Golden State per the latest FBI data. That means it’s safe to let your kids walk to school or keep your doors unlocked during the day.

Solana Beach, CA

Source: Wikipedia User Db9023 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Solana Beach California
Population 12,823 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $2,183,118 $774,581
Median Income $152,167 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 3.5% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0125 0.0257

More on Solana Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Would you guess California’s most walkable beach town ranks 5th among the best places to live in the state? It checks out. The Cedros Avenue Design District puts independent boutiques and galleries within strolling distance, and Fletcher Cove is the park families keep coming back to.

Unemployment sits at 3.5%, poverty at 5.5%, honestly some of the lowest numbers on this list. Pretty much nonexistent. Median income clears $152,167 and home values follow at $2,183,118, which tracks for a San Diego coastal zip nobody’s calling a bargain.

The Belly Up Tavern has booked national acts for decades. Not bad for one of the best small towns in California to call home.

Atherton, CA

Source: Public domain
Stat Atherton California
Population 6,993 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $7,890,840 $774,581
Median Income $250,001 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 3.2% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0133 0.0257

More on Atherton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

We’re returning to Silicon Valley to arrive at the 6th best place to live in California for 2026, Atherton. Atherton is right outside of Palo Alto, so if you’ve ever dreamed of taking classes at the prestigious Stanford University, you’re in for a treat.

Atherton enjoys the shortest commute time on this list, with residents having to spend 23 minutes to get to and from work each day. Atherton also has the lowest rate of food stamp recipients on this list, so most people here are doing just fine without government assistance. That probably has something to do with Atherton’s ridiculously high median household income of $250,001/year, which ties for the 4th highest in California.

Manhattan Beach, CA

Source: Public domain
Stat Manhattan Beach California
Population 34,210 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 11
Median Home Value $3,227,202 $774,581
Median Income $204,306 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 3.8% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0257 0.0257

More on Manhattan Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

If you can swing the sticker shock, Manhattan Beach delivers one of the best California addresses money can buy. This is the South Bay at its peak: $3,227,202 median homes, $204,306 median income, and a quiet community where 3.8% unemployment and 4.5% poverty make instability feel like someone else’s problem. That price tag buys you something real.

Walk the Strand boardwalk. Or watch the sport Manhattan Beach helped invent: beach volleyball got its competitive start right here, and the Manhattan Beach Open has been running since 1960. For a place to live in California, that’s a pretty good legacy.

Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Source: Wikipedia User | CC SA 1.0
Stat Palos Verdes Estates California
Population 12,925 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 9
Median Home Value $2,763,820 $774,581
Median Income $242,014 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 4.7% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0078 0.0257

More on Palos Verdes Estates: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Nex on our list of the best places to live in California is Palos Verdes Estates, a city of 12,925 located just south of Los Angeles. For some, it’ll be enough to mention that Disneyland is just a short drive away to convince them that moving to Palos Verdes Estates is a good course of action.

But if even if you’re not into Mickey and the gang, there’s plenty to love right in your neighborhood, like having the Palos Verdes Estates Shoreline Preserve Beach, a rocky beach and bluff, to visit year-round.

Palos Verdes is exceptionally safe, with the 25th lowest overall crime rate in California. That may have something to do with how educated residents are, considering that over 30% of people have a master’s degree or higher.

More degrees lead to bigger paychecks, and Palos Verdes Estates residents prove that with a median household income of $242,014. Which is kind of essential when your typical Palos Verdes Estates home sells for $2,763,820. Unemployment is at rock-bottom levels thanks to low levels of high school dropouts. In fact, GreatSchools gave Palos Verdes Estates schools an average score of 8.5/10, so everyone is set up for success here.

Aliso Viejo, CA

Source: Wikipedia User KennethHan | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Aliso Viejo California
Population 51,113 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $1,012,225 $774,581
Median Income $142,439 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 4.2% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0097 0.0257

More on Aliso Viejo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

We’re departing from Silicon Valley and heading towards Los Angeles’ Orange County to arrive at Aliso Viejo, the 9th best place to live in California. Aliso Viejo is a vibrant, youthful city where the median age is only 39. It’s also the most densely populated city you’ll see on this list, so if you crave constant activity, Aliso Viejo is probably your jam.

Aliso Viejo has the 162nd best home price to income ratio. That low cost of living means you won’t have to break the bank to enjoy yourself here. As a bonus, you won’t have any trouble getting friends and family to come visit you in Aliso Viejo, because Disneyland is just a hop, skip, and jump away.

Los Altos Hills, CA

Source: Public domain
Stat Los Altos Hills California
Population 8,377 39,287,377
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $6,102,344 $774,581
Median Income $250,001 $99,122
Unemployment Rate 3.5% 6.6%
Crime Per Capita 0.0039 0.0257

More on Los Altos Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

We don’t to drive very far to arrive at California’s 10th best city to call home, Los Altos Hills. The unemployment rate in Los Altos Hills is a mere 3.5%, the 26th lowest of anywhere on this list. Which makes sense when you consider that a staggering 50%+ of Los Altos Hills’ population has received AT LEAST a master’s degree, seeing as you don’t normally find a person with a Ph.D out of work. It also explains why folks in Los Altos Hills earn around $250,001/year, the 4th highest in California.

Los Altos has the 3rd lowest overall crime rate in the state, about 75% below the national average. So you can take full advantage of the 24 miles of trails available at Rancho San Antonio without fearing for your safety.

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in California

Best Places To Live In California Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in California, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Sacramento, with a population of 528,706, against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This filter left 411 cities, 381 towns, and 265 small towns.

We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in California have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In California

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in California across a number of criteria from one to 411, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In California.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking California’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in California. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Los Altos at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In California

If you’re looking at areas in California with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The best places to live in California are Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga, Villa Park, Solana Beach, Atherton, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Aliso Viejo, and Los Altos Hills.

Los Altos made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in California for 2026.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in California according to the data:

  1. Victorville (Pop. 137,627)
  2. Arvin (Pop. 19,539)
  3. Clearlake (Pop. 16,659)

For more California reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In California Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Los Altos 30,698 4.8% $4,713,314 $250,001 $3,501 0.0124
2 Cupertino 58,566 4.0% $3,189,451 $234,707 $3,501 0.0162
3 Saratoga 30,319 4.0% $4,189,622 $250,001 $3,501 0.0066
4 Villa Park 5,748 2.9% $2,343,977 $202,245 $0 0.0073
5 Solana Beach 12,823 3.5% $2,183,118 $152,167 $3,212 0.0125
6 Atherton 6,993 3.2% $7,890,840 $250,001 $3,501 0.0133
7 Manhattan Beach 34,210 3.8% $3,227,202 $204,306 $3,449 0.0257
8 Palos Verdes Estates 12,925 4.7% $2,763,820 $242,014 $3,217 0.0078
9 Aliso Viejo 51,113 4.2% $1,012,225 $142,439 $2,854 0.0097
10 Los Altos Hills 8,377 3.5% $6,102,344 $250,001 $3,501 0.0039
11 Sierra Madre 10,940 2.6% $1,437,492 $143,547 $2,198 0.0078
12 Piedmont 10,945 1.5% $2,459,056 $250,001 $3,501 0.0331
13 San Marino 12,216 5.3% $2,837,216 $214,167 $3,501 0.0117
14 Orinda 19,514 3.4% $1,985,116 $250,001 $3,501 0.0093
15 Sunnyvale 154,236 4.5% $2,168,909 $186,170 $3,039 0.0211
16 Newport Beach 83,845 4.3% $3,625,145 $156,867 $3,316 0.0207
17 Lafayette 25,285 4.3% $1,934,580 $228,250 $2,892 0.0133
18 Pacific Grove 14,951 5.5% $1,405,345 $106,065 $2,455 0.0103
19 Los Gatos 32,786 5.0% $2,705,289 $217,554 $3,247 0.0153
20 Hillsborough 11,099 7.0% $5,279,135 $250,001 $3,501 0.0075
21 Dana Point 32,790 4.0% $1,736,392 $141,520 $3,106 0.0105
22 Danville 43,401 5.6% $1,908,520 $232,216 $3,501 0.0064
23 Mission Viejo 92,151 5.2% $1,229,743 $136,123 $2,839 0.0125
24 San Ramon 85,993 5.2% $1,543,534 $196,161 $2,968 0.0118
25 Rancho Santa Margarita 46,990 4.1% $1,029,345 $152,560 $2,625 0.0059
26 Rancho Palos Verdes 40,864 5.5% $1,824,947 $179,623 $3,501 0.0094
27 Mountain View 83,732 3.7% $2,037,086 $189,917 $3,062 0.0300
28 Encinitas 61,480 4.5% $1,889,066 $162,229 $2,886 0.0114
29 Pacifica 37,261 3.9% $1,284,847 $160,523 $3,098 0.0139
30 St. Helena 5,318 4.6% $1,633,317 $148,750 $2,535 0.0090
31 Yorba Linda 67,170 4.7% $1,419,512 $157,582 $2,846 0.0084
32 Laguna Beach 22,710 5.0% $2,949,835 $143,843 $2,986 0.0109
33 Agoura Hills 19,721 5.2% $1,259,726 $171,302 $3,218 0.0099
34 Palo Alto 67,237 3.9% $3,722,200 $231,101 $3,484 0.0314
35 Menlo Park 32,727 4.8% $2,865,158 $210,025 $3,239 0.0191
36 Belmont 27,337 7.2% $2,332,686 $205,297 $2,875 0.0138
37 Lake Forest 86,281 4.9% $1,208,686 $135,175 $2,672 0.0097
38 Albany 19,414 3.1% $1,261,176 $144,107 $2,445 0.0254
39 Mill Valley 14,012 8.8% $2,073,166 $206,212 $3,278 0.0107
40 Laguna Niguel 64,139 7.1% $1,499,545 $140,452 $2,903 0.0100
41 Arroyo Grande 18,372 2.9% $1,044,035 $102,553 $2,173 0.0094
42 Hermosa Beach 19,063 5.4% $2,245,351 $166,442 $2,887 0.0274
43 Santa Clara 130,256 5.1% $1,782,191 $178,958 $3,016 0.0272
44 Poway 48,713 5.2% $1,230,063 $148,359 $2,301 0.0070
45 Moraga 16,769 6.4% $1,666,829 $216,193 $2,895 0.0057
46 Coronado 19,015 4.7% $2,508,030 $134,534 $3,257 0.0190
47 Tiburon 9,012 10.5% $3,020,895 $232,969 $3,501 0.0113
48 Redondo Beach 69,291 5.5% $1,500,192 $150,245 $2,691 0.0272
49 Clayton 10,937 6.7% $1,057,924 $175,707 $3,501 0.0058
50 Scotts Valley 12,044 2.9% $1,260,977 $143,750 $2,491 0.0186
51 South Pasadena 26,068 5.1% $1,692,677 $127,175 $2,284 0.0264
52 Rolling Hills Estates 8,131 7.5% $1,901,413 $191,895 $3,501 0.0161
53 San Clemente 63,273 4.6% $1,721,005 $140,062 $2,460 0.0141
54 South San Francisco 64,305 2.8% $1,242,213 $136,578 $2,802 0.0180
55 Rocklin 73,327 4.5% $692,667 $124,168 $2,258 0.0108
56 San Mateo 103,105 4.6% $1,686,905 $153,504 $3,077 0.0206
57 Dublin 70,803 3.8% $1,305,295 $214,385 $3,191 0.0199
58 Windsor 26,081 3.6% $804,763 $133,979 $2,433 0.0095
59 Ripon 16,201 2.7% $682,800 $133,380 $1,851 0.0102
60 Pleasanton 76,960 4.8% $1,601,646 $190,124 $3,060 0.0170
61 La Palma 15,272 3.9% $1,203,549 $117,989 $2,262 0.0198
62 San Bruno 42,307 5.0% $1,327,402 $141,272 $2,773 0.0213
63 San Carlos 29,614 5.0% $2,459,877 $237,470 $2,854 0.5024
64 Sausalito 7,141 8.0% $1,505,306 $182,357 $3,501 0.0176
65 Camarillo 70,186 5.5% $924,929 $113,428 $2,734 0.0130
66 Burlingame 30,525 5.7% $2,761,629 $174,000 $2,785 0.0213
67 La Habra Heights 5,478 2.8% $1,399,870 $179,583 $1,206 0.0082
68 Moorpark 35,854 5.1% $939,094 $148,480 $2,559 0.0080
69 Cotati 7,489 3.6% $727,230 $110,750 $2,056 0.0123
70 Irvine 311,690 5.9% $1,557,981 $136,719 $2,997 0.0150
71 Campbell 42,781 5.0% $1,977,422 $145,268 $2,737 0.0330
72 Laguna Hills 30,740 6.2% $1,243,180 $128,851 $2,728 0.0133
73 Milpitas 78,578 4.1% $1,502,890 $178,798 $3,120 0.0341
74 Livermore 85,522 3.6% $1,122,822 $160,775 $2,677 0.0243
75 Fountain Valley 56,258 5.6% $1,394,237 $115,237 $2,631 0.0192
76 Goleta 32,685 4.2% $1,364,877 $122,370 $2,437 0.0177
77 Santee 59,332 4.7% $803,481 $113,394 $2,250 0.0083
78 Carpinteria 13,036 3.6% $1,506,925 $100,658 $2,377 0.0152
79 Carlsbad 114,373 5.5% $1,370,648 $142,748 $2,808 0.0169
80 Sonoma 10,670 5.7% $943,021 $98,527 $2,226 0.0132
81 Thousand Oaks 125,205 5.4% $1,049,633 $135,603 $2,664 0.0110
82 Eastvale 70,633 4.7% $949,255 $160,069 $3,252 0.0182
83 Simi Valley 125,634 5.0% $844,909 $122,081 $2,579 0.0105
84 Lincoln 52,956 4.2% $639,029 $111,990 $2,090 0.0070
85 Benicia 26,749 4.5% $781,133 $121,204 $2,280 0.0114
86 Corte Madera 10,077 4.2% $1,838,958 $232,763 $3,501 0.0295
87 Morgan Hill 45,425 5.3% $1,356,869 $163,920 $2,474 0.0165
88 Fremont 228,295 4.7% $1,543,131 $181,506 $2,933 0.0248
89 San Juan Capistrano 35,095 3.6% $1,342,010 $129,457 $2,438 0.0123
90 Folsom 83,916 6.3% $763,783 $139,804 $2,352 0.0168
91 Larkspur 12,854 4.4% $2,129,544 $140,417 $3,001 0.0295
92 La Mirada 47,180 3.9% $887,478 $109,288 $2,217 0.0187
93 Cypress 49,498 5.4% $1,085,691 $130,215 $2,483 0.0183
94 Huntington Beach 195,240 5.4% $1,366,657 $120,919 $2,510 0.0214
95 Martinez 36,903 5.8% $773,745 $127,355 $2,353 0.0147
96 Cloverdale 8,886 2.8% $636,215 $117,177 $1,435 0.0109
97 Canyon Lake 11,119 4.3% $704,581 $126,926 $2,608 0.0080
98 Pismo Beach 8,014 4.4% $1,123,130 $118,072 $2,232 0.0235
99 El Segundo 16,769 6.0% $1,759,407 $150,737 $2,556 0.0577
100 Orange 138,266 4.9% $1,143,787 $117,113 $2,327 0.0151

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.