Are you sick of being a city slicker?
Do you long for life in suburban California? Where you can drive an overly-large vehicle to the store for groceries and schlep the kids around to practices and appointments without worrying about a parking space.
We do, too.
If you wanted to move out to the suburbs of Sacramento, where would you go? And how would you decide on the ranking factors to help you pick which California suburb was best?
No worries. We got it all figured out here using Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the 10 best suburbs in the Golden State
Los Altos is the place to be when it comes to being a soccer mom in suburban California.
So if you’re thinking of packing up your mini van and making a move to a quiet place to live in California, we’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for a detailed methodology. Or, check out the best places to live in California and the best places to raise a family in California.
Best Suburbs In California For 2026
/10
Population: 30,698
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $4,713,314
More on Los Altos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Los Altos is located 12 miles west of Fremont.
/10
Population: 30,319
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $4,189,622
More on Saratoga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Saratoga is located 11 miles west of San Jose.
/10
Population: 58,566
Median Income: $234,707
Average Home Price: $3,189,451
More on Cupertino: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cupertino is located 12 miles west of San Jose.
/10
Population: 5,748
Median Income: $202,245
Average Home Price: $2,343,977
More on Villa Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Villa Park is located 3 miles west of Anaheim.
/10
Population: 6,993
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $7,890,840
More on Atherton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Atherton is located 14 miles west of Fremont.
/10
Population: 12,823
Median Income: $152,167
Average Home Price: $2,183,118
More on Solana Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Solana Beach is located 14 miles north of San Diego.
/10
Population: 34,210
Median Income: $204,306
Average Home Price: $3,227,202
More on Manhattan Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Manhattan Beach is located 8 miles south of Los Angeles.
/10
Population: 8,377
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $6,102,344
More on Los Altos Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Los Altos Hills is located 13 miles west of Fremont.
/10
Population: 12,925
Median Income: $242,014
Average Home Price: $2,763,820
More on Palos Verdes Estates: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Palos Verdes Estates is located 13 miles west of Long Beach.
/10
Population: 10,945
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $2,459,056
More on Piedmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Piedmont is located 3 miles north of Oakland.
Methodology:How we crunched the suburb numbers for the Golden State
We have to use Saturday Night Science and look at several metrics to give you the best suburbs in California. We want to measure the type of place around major cities that people arguing at a bar would say makes it the “best suburb.”
First, we had to define a suburb. Using U.S. Census data produced for the state of California, we looked at every town with at least 5,000 residents, and within 30 miles of a city that’s over 200,000 people.
In other words, suburbs.
We paid particular attention to the following criteria:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is Better)
- Unemployment Rates
- Commute Time
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We ranked each suburb in California across these criteria from one to 284, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the town posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Suburb To Live In California.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and ideal places to live in California.
Read on to see why Los Altos is the ‘burb with the most, while Victorville is probably not the best place to live in California.
Summary: There You Have It – The Best Suburbs In California
If you’re measuring the locations in California where there are lots to do, and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best suburbs in California are Los Altos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Villa Park, Atherton, Solana Beach, Manhattan Beach, Los Altos Hills, Palos Verdes Estates, and Piedmont.
Here’s a look at the worst suburbs in California according to the data:
- Victorville
- Arvin
- Hesperia
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
- Richest Cities In California
- Safest Places In California
- Worst Places To Live In California
- Most Expensive Places To Live In California
The Best Suburbs In California
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Altos | 30,698 | $250,001 | $4,713,314 |
| 2 | Saratoga | 30,319 | $250,001 | $4,189,622 |
| 3 | Cupertino | 58,566 | $234,707 | $3,189,451 |
| 4 | Villa Park | 5,748 | $202,245 | $2,343,977 |
| 5 | Atherton | 6,993 | $250,001 | $7,890,840 |
| 6 | Solana Beach | 12,823 | $152,167 | $2,183,118 |
| 7 | Manhattan Beach | 34,210 | $204,306 | $3,227,202 |
| 8 | Los Altos Hills | 8,377 | $250,001 | $6,102,344 |
| 9 | Palos Verdes Estates | 12,925 | $242,014 | $2,763,820 |
| 10 | Piedmont | 10,945 | $250,001 | $2,459,056 |
| 11 | Lafayette | 25,285 | $228,250 | $1,934,580 |
| 12 | Aliso Viejo | 51,113 | $142,439 | $1,012,225 |
| 13 | Orinda | 19,514 | $250,001 | $1,985,116 |
| 14 | San Marino | 12,216 | $214,167 | $2,837,216 |
| 15 | Sierra Madre | 10,940 | $143,547 | $1,437,492 |
| 16 | Hillsborough | 11,099 | $250,001 | $5,279,135 |
| 17 | Los Gatos | 32,786 | $217,554 | $2,705,289 |
| 18 | Newport Beach | 83,845 | $156,867 | $3,625,145 |
| 19 | Sunnyvale | 154,236 | $186,170 | $2,168,909 |
| 20 | Danville | 43,401 | $232,216 | $1,908,520 |
| 21 | San Ramon | 85,993 | $196,161 | $1,543,534 |
| 22 | Rancho Palos Verdes | 40,864 | $179,623 | $1,824,947 |
| 23 | Mission Viejo | 92,151 | $136,123 | $1,229,743 |
| 24 | Dana Point | 32,790 | $141,520 | $1,736,392 |
| 25 | Mountain View | 83,732 | $189,917 | $2,037,086 |
| 26 | Rancho Santa Margarita | 46,990 | $152,560 | $1,029,345 |
| 27 | Pacifica | 37,261 | $160,523 | $1,284,847 |
| 28 | Palo Alto | 67,237 | $231,101 | $3,722,200 |
| 29 | Encinitas | 61,480 | $162,229 | $1,889,066 |
| 30 | Laguna Beach | 22,710 | $143,843 | $2,949,835 |
| 31 | Yorba Linda | 67,170 | $157,582 | $1,419,512 |
| 32 | Agoura Hills | 19,721 | $171,302 | $1,259,726 |
| 33 | Menlo Park | 32,727 | $210,025 | $2,865,158 |
| 34 | Tiburon | 9,012 | $232,969 | $3,020,895 |
| 35 | Mill Valley | 14,012 | $206,212 | $2,073,166 |
| 36 | Hermosa Beach | 19,063 | $166,442 | $2,245,351 |
| 37 | Belmont | 27,337 | $205,297 | $2,332,686 |
| 38 | Albany | 19,414 | $144,107 | $1,261,176 |
| 39 | Moraga | 16,769 | $216,193 | $1,666,829 |
| 40 | Rolling Hills Estates | 8,131 | $191,895 | $1,901,413 |
| 41 | Laguna Niguel | 64,139 | $140,452 | $1,499,545 |
| 42 | Poway | 48,713 | $148,359 | $1,230,063 |
| 43 | Lake Forest | 86,281 | $135,175 | $1,208,686 |
| 44 | Santa Clara | 130,256 | $178,958 | $1,782,191 |
| 45 | Coronado | 19,015 | $134,534 | $2,508,030 |
| 46 | Scotts Valley | 12,044 | $143,750 | $1,260,977 |
| 47 | Dublin | 70,803 | $214,385 | $1,305,295 |
| 48 | Clayton | 10,937 | $175,707 | $1,057,924 |
| 49 | San Carlos | 29,614 | $237,470 | $2,459,877 |
| 50 | Redondo Beach | 69,291 | $150,245 | $1,500,192 |
| 51 | South Pasadena | 26,068 | $127,175 | $1,692,677 |
| 52 | South San Francisco | 64,305 | $136,578 | $1,242,213 |
| 53 | San Clemente | 63,273 | $140,062 | $1,721,005 |
| 54 | Pleasanton | 76,960 | $190,124 | $1,601,646 |
| 55 | San Mateo | 103,105 | $153,504 | $1,686,905 |
| 56 | Rocklin | 73,327 | $124,168 | $692,667 |
| 57 | Sausalito | 7,141 | $182,357 | $1,505,306 |
| 58 | Ripon | 16,201 | $133,380 | $682,800 |
| 59 | La Habra Heights | 5,478 | $179,583 | $1,399,870 |
| 60 | La Palma | 15,272 | $117,989 | $1,203,549 |
| 61 | San Bruno | 42,307 | $141,272 | $1,327,402 |
| 62 | Burlingame | 30,525 | $174,000 | $2,761,629 |
| 63 | Moorpark | 35,854 | $148,480 | $939,094 |
| 64 | Campbell | 42,781 | $145,268 | $1,977,422 |
| 65 | Livermore | 85,522 | $160,775 | $1,122,822 |
| 66 | Milpitas | 78,578 | $178,798 | $1,502,890 |
| 67 | Camarillo | 70,186 | $113,428 | $924,929 |
| 68 | Corte Madera | 10,077 | $232,763 | $1,838,958 |
| 69 | Carpinteria | 13,036 | $100,658 | $1,506,925 |
| 70 | Laguna Hills | 30,740 | $128,851 | $1,243,180 |
| 71 | Carlsbad | 114,373 | $142,748 | $1,370,648 |
| 72 | Fountain Valley | 56,258 | $115,237 | $1,394,237 |
| 73 | Eastvale | 70,633 | $160,069 | $949,255 |
| 74 | Thousand Oaks | 125,205 | $135,603 | $1,049,633 |
| 75 | Morgan Hill | 45,425 | $163,920 | $1,356,869 |
| 76 | Woodside | 5,126 | $250,001 | $3,891,384 |
| 77 | Benicia | 26,749 | $121,204 | $781,133 |
| 78 | Santee | 59,332 | $113,394 | $803,481 |
| 79 | San Juan Capistrano | 35,095 | $129,457 | $1,342,010 |
| 80 | Simi Valley | 125,634 | $122,081 | $844,909 |
| 81 | Lincoln | 52,956 | $111,990 | $639,029 |
| 82 | Larkspur | 12,854 | $140,417 | $2,129,544 |
| 83 | Folsom | 83,916 | $139,804 | $763,783 |
| 84 | El Segundo | 16,769 | $150,737 | $1,759,407 |
| 85 | Cypress | 49,498 | $130,215 | $1,085,691 |
| 86 | Martinez | 36,903 | $127,355 | $773,745 |
| 87 | Huntington Beach | 195,240 | $120,919 | $1,366,657 |
| 88 | La Mirada | 47,180 | $109,288 | $887,478 |
| 89 | Canyon Lake | 11,119 | $126,926 | $704,581 |
| 90 | Roseville | 155,955 | $119,288 | $644,324 |
| 91 | Winters | 7,583 | $122,951 | $614,926 |
| 92 | Orange | 138,266 | $117,113 | $1,143,787 |
| 93 | Fairfax | 7,516 | $141,653 | $1,213,199 |
| 94 | San Anselmo | 12,679 | $173,641 | $1,647,301 |
| 95 | Hercules | 26,302 | $129,397 | $754,022 |
| 96 | Pleasant Hill | 34,235 | $145,029 | $1,000,858 |
| 97 | Capitola | 9,689 | $102,976 | $1,233,201 |
| 98 | Placentia | 52,826 | $115,929 | $1,117,227 |
| 99 | Ojai | 7,577 | $82,656 | $1,141,102 |
| 100 | Calabasas | 22,669 | $165,288 | $1,722,904 |