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 2026
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 2026
/10
Population: 13,768
Median Income: $82,674
Median Home Price: $630,252
Median Rent: $1,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Auburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 38,585
Median Income: $49,783
Median Home Price: $391,299
Median Rent: $1,093
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Calexico: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 45,070
Median Income: $73,119
Median Home Price: $624,876
Median Rent: $1,562
Distance to Closest Airport: 2 miles
More on Palm Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,563
Median Income: $107,364
Median Home Price: $844,886
Median Rent: $1,510
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Rancho Mirage: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 21,430
Median Income: $90,195
Median Home Price: $437,251
Median Rent: $1,255
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Imperial: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 30,319
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $4,189,622
Median Rent: $3,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Saratoga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,940
Median Income: $143,547
Median Home Price: $1,437,492
Median Rent: $2,198
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Sierra Madre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 31,093
Median Income: $61,764
Median Home Price: $414,128
Median Rent: $1,650
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Banning: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,762
Median Income: $67,274
Median Home Price: $531,048
Median Rent: $1,234
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Placerville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 52,956
Median Income: $111,990
Median Home Price: $639,029
Median Rent: $2,090
Distance to Closest Airport: 20 miles
More on Lincoln: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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.
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:
- Lathrop
- Emeryville
- Tracy
For more California reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In California
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | 13,768 | $82,674 | $630,252 | $1,501 |
| 2 | Calexico | 38,585 | $49,783 | $391,299 | $1,093 |
| 3 | Palm Springs | 45,070 | $73,119 | $624,876 | $1,562 |
| 4 | Rancho Mirage | 17,563 | $107,364 | $844,886 | $1,510 |
| 5 | Imperial | 21,430 | $90,195 | $437,251 | $1,255 |
| 6 | Saratoga | 30,319 | $250,001 | $4,189,622 | $3,501 |
| 7 | Sierra Madre | 10,940 | $143,547 | $1,437,492 | $2,198 |
| 8 | Banning | 31,093 | $61,764 | $414,128 | $1,650 |
| 9 | Placerville | 10,762 | $67,274 | $531,048 | $1,234 |
| 10 | Lincoln | 52,956 | $111,990 | $639,029 | $2,090 |