When people think of glamorized retirement states, many first think of Florida. But when you stop and think about it, California has it all. It has mountains and trails, beaches and surfing, and cities with a seal or two. It is one of America’s most idealized states because of the perfect weather, activities, and people.
So if you’re thinking of Californiaas a top destination for your retirement, we put together a list of the best places to rest on your laurels. Large cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco are hard to afford on your pension. You need to find the best places to retire on an average budget.
To do that, we considered places in California with things to do, like museums and libraries, but that wouldn’t make you go broke. We used Saturday Night Science to account for factors like cost of living, weather, and the distance to the nearest airport.
We have figured out which California cities are the best for retirement.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In California For 2025
What is the best place to retire in California? Auburn is the best place to retire in California, according to our most recent data.
Interested to see how we crunched the numbers? Keep reading for a detailed look at our top ten best cities for retirement in California and to learn more about methodology.
Why did Auburn take the top spot? And where are Los Angeles and San Diego?
For more California state reading:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Best Places To Raise A Family In California
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In California For 2025
/10
Population: 13,758
Median Income: $77,760
Median Home Price: $642,400
Median Rent: $1,432
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Auburn: Data
/10
Population: 38,476
Median Income: $50,021
Median Home Price: $281,700
Median Rent: $1,049
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Calexico: Data
/10
Population: 44,998
Median Income: $71,979
Median Home Price: $567,300
Median Rent: $1,473
Distance to Closest Airport: 2 miles
More on Palm Springs: Data
/10
Population: 11,020
Median Income: $141,094
Median Home Price: $1,172,200
Median Rent: $2,086
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Sierra Madre: Data
/10
Population: 20,943
Median Income: $83,214
Median Home Price: $344,700
Median Rent: $1,396
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Imperial: Data
/10
Population: 17,375
Median Income: $109,943
Median Home Price: $747,800
Median Rent: $1,575
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Rancho Mirage: Data
/10
Population: 30,335
Median Income: $241,348
Median Home Price: $2,000,001
Median Rent: $3,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Saratoga: Data
/10
Population: 30,680
Median Income: $57,699
Median Home Price: $322,900
Median Rent: $1,528
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Banning: Data
/10
Population: 10,730
Median Income: $70,602
Median Home Price: $450,600
Median Rent: $1,229
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Placerville: Data
/10
Population: 61,256
Median Income: $87,880
Median Home Price: $505,200
Median Rent: $1,500
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Woodland: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Golden State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in California to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Golden State — 1481 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 347 places from across the state.
For these 347, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 347, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Auburn, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in California.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In California Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in California goes to Auburn.
The best places to retire in California are Auburn, Calexico, Palm Springs, Sierra Madre, Imperial, Rancho Mirage, Saratoga, Banning, Placerville, and Woodland.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Lathrop
- Goleta
- Emeryville
For more California reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In California
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | 13,758 | $77,760 | $642,400 | $1,432 |
| 2 | Calexico | 38,476 | $50,021 | $281,700 | $1,049 |
| 3 | Palm Springs | 44,998 | $71,979 | $567,300 | $1,473 |
| 4 | Sierra Madre | 11,020 | $141,094 | $1,172,200 | $2,086 |
| 5 | Imperial | 20,943 | $83,214 | $344,700 | $1,396 |
| 6 | Rancho Mirage | 17,375 | $109,943 | $747,800 | $1,575 |
| 7 | Saratoga | 30,335 | $241,348 | $2,000,001 | $3,501 |
| 8 | Banning | 30,680 | $57,699 | $322,900 | $1,528 |
| 9 | Placerville | 10,730 | $70,602 | $450,600 | $1,229 |
| 10 | Woodland | 61,256 | $87,880 | $505,200 | $1,500 |