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.
$1,501 median rent · $82,674 median income · #58 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Placer County, California
Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population was 13,330 during the 2010 census. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history, and is registered as a California Historical Landmark.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,093 median rent · $49,783 median income · #11 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Imperial County, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about 122 miles east of San Diego and 62 miles west of Yuma, Arizona. The name of the city is a portmanteau of California and Mexico, which, like that of its adjacent sister city of Mexicali, emphasizes its identity as a border city.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,562 median rent · $73,119 median income · #68 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Riverside County, California
Palm Springs is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 55mi east of San Bernardino, 107mi east of Los Angeles, 123mi northeast of San Diego, and 268mi west of Phoenix, Arizona. The population was 44,552 as of the 2010 census. Palm Springs covers approximately 94 square miles, making it the largest city in the county by land area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,510 median rent · $107,364 median income · #61 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Riverside County, California
Rancho Mirage is a resort city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 17,218 at the 2010 census, up from 13,249 at the 2000 census, but the seasonal population can exceed 20,000. Located between Cathedral City and Palm Desert, it is one of the nine cities of the Coachella Valley. Rancho Mirage was incorporated in 1973 from a merger of Mirage Cove with five unincorporated areas known as the “Cove communities”, and had 3,000 permanent residents at the time. Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, died at his home in the city in 2006, and Jane Wyman died one year later at her home in the same city.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,255 median rent · $90,195 median income · #32 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Imperial County, California
Imperial is a city in Imperial County, California. Imperial is located 4 miles north of El Centro. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 14,758. It is part of the El Centro metropolitan area. Nearby recreation facilities transform the desert into a popular Valley tourist destination due to availability of activities. Three year-round golf courses are within minutes of Imperial. The sand dunes provide a place for campers and dune buggy enthusiasts. This region is well known for its abundance of bird species such as dove, quail, ducks, pheasant and geese.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$3,501 median rent · $250,001 median income · #342 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Santa Clara County, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census. Located on the Western edge of the Silicon Valley, Saratoga is known locally for its suburban small-town feel, wineries, and high-end restaurants. Major attractions of Saratoga include Villa Montalvo, Hakone Gardens, and the Mountain Winery.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$2,198 median rent · $143,547 median income · #196 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Los Angeles County, California
Sierra Madre is a city in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 U.S. Census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census. The city is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. Pasadena and Altadena are to its west, with Arcadia to its south and east. Sierra Madre is known as “Wisteria City”, and its city seal is decorated with a drawing of the now widely known 500-foot vine. It is also called the “Village of the Foothills” and was an All-America City in 2007.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,650 median rent · $61,764 median income · #83 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Riverside County, California
Banning is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 29,603 at the 2010 census. It is situated in the San Gorgonio Pass, also known as Banning Pass. It is named for Phineas Banning, stagecoach line owner and the “Father of the Port of Los Angeles.”
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,234 median rent · $67,274 median income · #29 cheapest rent in California
Located in
El Dorado County, California
Placerville is the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,389 at the 2010 census, up from 9,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$2,090 median rent · $111,990 median income · #176 cheapest rent in California
Located in
Placer County, California
Lincoln is a city in Placer County, California, United States, part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. Located in an area of rapid suburban development, it grew 282.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest growing city over 10,000 people in the U.S. Its 2015 population was estimated to be 45,837.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is California’s statewide median.
California statewide median: $99,122
California statewide median: $774,582
On the map
Where to retire in California
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Golden State for 2026
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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in California.
The full plate
Best Places To Retire In California
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Retire Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | 69.00 | 13,768 | $82,674 | $630,252 | $1,501 |
| 2 | Calexico | 77.10 | 38,585 | $49,783 | $391,300 | $1,093 |
| 3 | Palm Springs | 88.60 | 45,070 | $73,119 | $624,876 | $1,562 |
| 4 | Rancho Mirage | 89.60 | 17,563 | $107,364 | $844,886 | $1,510 |
| 5 | Imperial | 91.90 | 21,430 | $90,195 | $437,251 | $1,255 |
| 6 | Saratoga | 97.20 | 30,319 | $250,001 | $4,189,623 | $3,501 |
| 7 | Sierra Madre | 98.50 | 10,940 | $143,547 | $1,437,492 | $2,198 |
| 8 | Banning | 103.50 | 31,093 | $61,764 | $414,128 | $1,650 |
| 9 | Placerville | 104.60 | 10,762 | $67,274 | $531,048 | $1,234 |
| 10 | Lincoln | 108.50 | 52,956 | $111,990 | $639,029 | $2,090 |
| 11 | Woodland | 112.30 | 61,854 | $90,180 | $555,610 | $1,583 |
| 12 | El Centro | 112.80 | 44,240 | $53,082 | $387,050 | $1,052 |
| 13 | Benicia | 117.00 | 26,749 | $121,204 | $781,134 | $2,280 |
| 14 | Coalinga | 117.40 | 17,203 | $75,451 | $294,654 | $1,093 |
| 15 | Moraga | 117.50 | 16,769 | $216,193 | $1,666,830 | $2,895 |
| 16 | Mill Valley | 118.50 | 14,012 | $206,212 | $2,073,166 | $3,278 |
| 17 | Monterey Park | 118.90 | 59,132 | $81,855 | $934,098 | $1,888 |
| 18 | San Marino | 121.80 | 12,216 | $214,167 | $2,837,216 | $3,501 |
| 19 | Duarte | 123.20 | 22,184 | $105,483 | $801,444 | $2,105 |
| 20 | South San Francisco | 123.80 | 64,305 | $136,578 | $1,242,214 | $2,802 |
| 21 | Santee | 124.00 | 59,332 | $113,394 | $803,482 | $2,250 |
| 22 | Yorba Linda | 124.80 | 67,170 | $157,582 | $1,419,513 | $2,846 |
| 23 | Blythe | 125.30 | 17,396 | $56,625 | $219,715 | $938 |
| 24 | Los Gatos | 125.70 | 32,786 | $217,554 | $2,705,289 | $3,247 |
| 25 | Brawley | 126.50 | 27,283 | $59,311 | $356,766 | $988 |
| 26 | Rio Vista | 127.10 | 10,102 | $89,306 | $464,118 | $1,724 |
| 27 | Rancho Palos Verdes | 127.30 | 40,864 | $179,623 | $1,824,948 | $3,501 |
| 28 | Claremont | 127.30 | 36,595 | $125,647 | $1,039,337 | $2,237 |
| 29 | Palm Desert | 127.60 | 51,990 | $77,513 | $554,373 | $1,778 |
| 30 | Coronado | 129.60 | 19,015 | $134,534 | $2,508,031 | $3,257 |
| 31 | Covina | 130.70 | 49,888 | $98,671 | $804,341 | $1,931 |
| 32 | Calabasas | 131.60 | 22,669 | $165,288 | $1,722,904 | $3,089 |
| 33 | Torrance | 133.50 | 142,130 | $116,217 | $1,124,932 | $2,280 |
| 34 | Susanville | 133.90 | 14,177 | $61,641 | $237,883 | $902 |
| 35 | Hillsborough | 134.40 | 11,099 | $250,001 | $5,279,135 | $3,501 |
| 36 | Burlingame | 134.90 | 30,525 | $174,000 | $2,761,630 | $2,785 |
| 37 | Ukiah | 135.20 | 16,304 | $66,160 | $477,533 | $1,331 |
| 38 | Roseville | 136.80 | 155,955 | $119,288 | $644,324 | $2,142 |
| 39 | Pacific Grove | 136.80 | 14,951 | $106,065 | $1,405,345 | $2,455 |
| 40 | Palos Verdes Estates | 138.00 | 12,925 | $242,014 | $2,763,820 | $3,217 |
| 41 | Jurupa Valley | 138.30 | 107,011 | $97,550 | $672,514 | $1,741 |
| 42 | Belmont | 138.30 | 27,337 | $205,297 | $2,332,686 | $2,875 |
| 43 | Los Angeles | 138.90 | 3,857,263 | $81,939 | $952,183 | $1,933 |
| 44 | Signal Hill | 138.90 | 11,468 | $113,298 | $708,079 | $1,851 |
| 45 | San Leandro | 139.10 | 87,826 | $101,420 | $817,480 | $2,186 |
| 46 | San Dimas | 139.10 | 33,789 | $105,321 | $927,055 | $2,278 |
| 47 | Glendora | 140.80 | 50,926 | $113,569 | $893,350 | $2,254 |
| 48 | Martinez | 140.80 | 36,903 | $127,355 | $773,745 | $2,353 |
| 49 | Reedley | 141.30 | 25,609 | $63,307 | $390,765 | $1,288 |
| 50 | Norco | 141.40 | 25,054 | $127,566 | $918,950 | $1,925 |
| 51 | La Verne | 141.80 | 30,600 | $103,761 | $951,548 | $2,315 |
| 52 | Kingsburg | 142.60 | 12,755 | $76,913 | $475,599 | $1,277 |
| 53 | Clovis | 142.70 | 124,725 | $99,241 | $521,708 | $1,792 |
| 54 | Rocklin | 142.70 | 73,327 | $124,168 | $692,668 | $2,258 |
| 55 | Inglewood | 142.90 | 104,569 | $72,750 | $763,568 | $1,787 |
| 56 | Alhambra | 142.90 | 81,022 | $88,024 | $937,892 | $1,939 |
| 57 | Azusa | 143.20 | 49,031 | $90,721 | $715,154 | $1,887 |
| 58 | San Mateo | 145.00 | 103,105 | $153,504 | $1,686,905 | $3,077 |
| 59 | La Quinta | 145.00 | 38,707 | $99,250 | $747,082 | $1,785 |
| 60 | Beverly Hills | 145.00 | 31,624 | $132,977 | $3,662,756 | $2,830 |
| 61 | Pleasanton | 145.70 | 76,960 | $190,124 | $1,601,646 | $3,060 |
| 62 | La Puente | 145.80 | 37,142 | $86,602 | $723,135 | $1,849 |
| 63 | Yucca Valley | 145.90 | 21,770 | $59,563 | $358,163 | $1,428 |
| 64 | Glendale | 146.30 | 190,748 | $88,393 | $1,201,880 | $2,182 |
| 65 | Upland | 146.40 | 79,257 | $105,830 | $825,789 | $2,029 |
| 66 | Orinda | 147.00 | 19,514 | $250,001 | $1,985,117 | $3,501 |
| 67 | Madera | 147.30 | 67,831 | $63,933 | $423,813 | $1,353 |
| 68 | San Bruno | 147.40 | 42,307 | $141,272 | $1,327,402 | $2,773 |
| 69 | Fresno | 147.80 | 545,970 | $70,991 | $391,328 | $1,421 |
| 70 | Hanford | 147.80 | 59,754 | $76,461 | $382,153 | $1,309 |
| 71 | Moorpark | 147.90 | 35,854 | $148,480 | $939,094 | $2,559 |
| 72 | Truckee | 148.10 | 17,066 | $130,462 | $1,010,243 | $1,961 |
| 73 | Laguna Beach | 148.20 | 22,710 | $143,843 | $2,949,835 | $2,986 |
| 74 | Chula Vista | 148.40 | 276,375 | $108,032 | $846,372 | $2,229 |
| 75 | El Cajon | 148.50 | 104,449 | $67,511 | $816,317 | $1,856 |
| 76 | Santa Rosa | 149.00 | 177,090 | $99,060 | $718,726 | $2,152 |
| 77 | Napa | 149.00 | 78,239 | $105,963 | $879,853 | $2,282 |
| 78 | Oakland | 149.50 | 439,418 | $101,600 | $716,248 | $1,979 |
| 79 | Santa Monica | 149.60 | 91,169 | $114,885 | $1,703,948 | $2,402 |
| 80 | Beaumont | 149.70 | 56,266 | $107,118 | $537,095 | $1,681 |
| 81 | Hemet | 150.40 | 91,326 | $57,719 | $444,334 | $1,575 |
| 82 | Pacifica | 150.40 | 37,261 | $160,523 | $1,284,847 | $3,098 |
| 83 | Simi Valley | 150.70 | 125,634 | $122,081 | $844,909 | $2,579 |
| 84 | Dixon | 150.80 | 19,683 | $102,878 | $607,768 | $1,859 |
| 85 | Folsom | 151.20 | 83,916 | $139,804 | $763,784 | $2,352 |
| 86 | Sacramento | 151.60 | 528,706 | $87,321 | $479,766 | $1,779 |
| 87 | Alameda | 151.60 | 77,238 | $137,697 | $1,155,484 | $2,474 |
| 88 | Walnut | 151.60 | 27,611 | $129,449 | $1,197,951 | $3,202 |
| 89 | Lemon Grove | 151.80 | 27,686 | $88,009 | $762,358 | $1,893 |
| 90 | Mission Viejo | 152.00 | 92,151 | $136,123 | $1,229,743 | $2,839 |
| 91 | Poway | 152.20 | 48,713 | $148,359 | $1,230,064 | $2,301 |
| 92 | Cupertino | 152.40 | 58,566 | $234,707 | $3,189,452 | $3,501 |
| 93 | San Diego | 152.60 | 1,389,526 | $108,077 | $1,001,265 | $2,313 |
| 94 | Laguna Woods | 152.60 | 17,289 | $59,269 | $471,410 | $2,328 |
| 95 | Rancho Cucamonga | 152.70 | 175,411 | $111,895 | $792,765 | $2,357 |
| 96 | Thousand Oaks | 153.00 | 125,205 | $135,603 | $1,049,634 | $2,664 |
| 97 | Los Altos | 153.10 | 30,698 | $250,001 | $4,713,315 | $3,501 |
| 98 | Campbell | 153.80 | 42,781 | $145,268 | $1,977,422 | $2,737 |
| 99 | Desert Hot Springs | 153.90 | 33,200 | $52,761 | $377,730 | $1,412 |
| 100 | Santa Paula | 153.90 | 31,376 | $79,294 | $717,279 | $1,736 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, OpenFlights. 347 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Summary
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, Rancho Mirage, Imperial, Saratoga, Sierra Madre, Banning, Placerville, and Lincoln.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley.
