Living in California

Is California the Best Place to Live in the U.S.?

With its prime location nestled next to the Pacific Ocean coupled with mountain ranges all around and some pretty nice weather year round it is no surprise that many are living in Southern California. Since California joined the union people have exclaimed the virtues of California and called it the best place to live in the United States.

Living in Southern California

There are many benefits to the living in the southern half of this state. Job opportunities abound here. If you are in the Entertainment field, there are a wealth of studios and production companies to work for, but Southern California has job opportunities outside of the stereotypical 'movie business'. Yes, Southern Cal has a wide variety of professions to choose from - from accounting to advertising, to working with technology or opening your own business or restaurant, choices and opportunities abound abound.

Southern California is a hubbub of recreational activities. With the moderate temperature of the ocean water activities such as surfing, diving, and parasailing are at your fingertips. If you prefer grounded movement, there are bike trails and hiking trails all over the regions. If you like roller coasters and water parks, Southern California has several zoos, aquariums and theme parks to choose from.

Living in Northern California

Living in Northern California can be an amazing experience too, although it is significantly more expensive than it's southern counterpart. Like Southern California, Northern California has a range of job opportunities, including great advertising companies, educational positions and various technology fields. There are mountains to hike and some great city trekking to be done in cities like San Francisco. The weather is more moderate here, and the rainfall and fog are significant, but they go great with a nice cup of coffee from some outstanding coffee shops and restaurants up North. As an added bonus a trip to the woods and to the neighboring state of Oregon are not far away either.

The Cheapest Places to Live in California

Most people are surprised to learn that there are inexpensive places to live in California, but it's important to note that these places are often in hotter parts of the state.

The cheapest places to live in California include:

California City, with a population of about 15,000 it is located in Northern Antelope Valley and has affordable homes in the $200,000 range and low rents for apartments too.

Hesperia, California, which is a couple of hours from Orange county has a larger population of around 80,000 people and homes that are in the $200,000 to 300,000 range.

To the north of Los Angeles is Bakersfield, California with a growing population of 300,000 and affordable housing.

The most populated of these areas is Lancaster, California with over 500,000 people and lots of schools to accommodate this growing area.

The Best Place to Live in California?

There is some debate to where the best places to live in California are. Some automatically default to Los Angeles and San Francisco due to their popularity. San Diego's name has been emerging, for it is not as populated as the former cities and there are jobs, recreation and good food there too, for a little less on the pocket book. If the best place to live to you is where there is a low crime rate, then cities like Palos Verdes Estates or Saratoga, California may be what you are looking for although living in these spots does come with a higher price tag. Wherever you end up in this great state, I think you will love it.

Cheapest Cities to Live in California

There was an old joke about living in California that went,

"California and Cheap are impossible to use in the same sentence!"

I say 'old' because the sub-prime crisis has certainly changed the landscape in California especially when it comes to real estate. Still certainly not the cheapest place to live in America but there are parts that offer some of the best and cheapest (esp. foreclosed) real estate in the country.

Living in California has always been an expensive proposition and today the cost of living is being impacted even more what with the liks of some of the most expensive gas in the country. But California boasts a #1 at the other end of the wealth to poverty scale - its also one of the worst places for foreclosures. Add to that the dismal state of the economy and budget crisis and you've got a negative mix that has driven many Californians to move out. And if all of that isn't enough CA is also one of the top ten states for unemployment. Put it altogether and you've got the impact necessary to bring housing and other costs down and for opening up cheaper places to live in California.

The cheaper cities to live in are more likely to be small with lower populations and they may also be a little further away from major centers like LA or San Francisco. Here are our top picks for

The Cheapest Cities in California

California City

California City is located in the northern Antelope Valley area. It's population is around 15,000 with a median age of 35. In California City you can purchase a home for less than $200,000 which is really almost unheard of anywhere else in California. Rents start at around $650 for a two-bedroom apartment - that is much lower than what you would pay for a one-bedroom apartment in a densely populated part of  LA.




Hesperia

You'll find Hesperia in the Mojave Desert area of San Bernardino county. The population here is 80,000 so it's considerably bigger than California City but of course still a fraction of the size of LA which tops 6 million people and that doesn't include all of the other cities in Los Angeles county area. Hesperia also has more to do with a good selection of local shopping centers and a number of unique restaurants. Hesperia is around 2 hours drive from Orange County. Here the average home is also under $200,000 which is very affordable by California standards.

Bakersfield

Bakersfield has had a population boom over the past decade with 2009 statistic counting 333,000 people Even with all those people moving in it is still an affordable place to live in California. The are in and around Bakersfield is beautiful but it can get very hot in the summer months. Other challenges include a a high unemployment rate and poor air quality. In fact it has been labeled as one of the most polluted cities in California.

Lancaster

Lancaster is the ninth fasting growing city in California. Population tops 500,000. If you're looking for a cheap place to rent, this is the spot. A two-bedroom apartment runs at around $800 which is exceptionally cheap for California. If you're more interested in buying a home the average price is $300,000, a little higher than the other cheap cities we've examined so far. Lancaster is great for families with plenty of schools and shopping. On the down side crime has been on the rise in some areas. Lancaster is relatively easy to find. It's about a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles.

These are just a few of the cheap places to live in California. There are more but generally they are found in the same areas as these. This is not exactly the best time to move to California, but if you have to for work or other reasons and living on a budget is top of mind than these cities are all worth a look. For those who already live in California but are looking to downsize and hate the alternative of moving out of state these cities are worth a look too.


Editors Note: I know a few people who live in California so asked them to chip into this conversation and offer their opinions on the Best Place to live in California if one is on a tight budget. Here's what they had to say:

• Tough question! Even with all the troubles California is facing the main cities are still pretty pricy - it doesn't seem to matter where you look - Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego or even Sacramento - the housing market and cost of living is still expensive by any American standard.

• A lot of people who are looking for a more affordable lifestyle are checking out of their high end homes in Southern Cal and moving to the smaller towns of the 'Inland Empire' - this is found in the western part of San Bernardino and Riverside. It's cheaper their but these places are still within  commuting range of Los Angeles and San Diego.

• For even cheaper places to live in California I suggest you try the rural areas - the farming towns, and the desert or mountain towns are a lot cheaper. Imperial County, which is in between San Diego and Arizona is quite rural but has some nice small desert towns like El Centro.

• The cheapest places to live will typically be in the middle of nowhere but there are obvious negatives which is why they are cheaper! The gas is likely to be more expensive, its tougher to find a decent job and general amenities will be lacking like the variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

• I suspect that most people who answer this question won't know what they're talking about! If you ask most people about California they'll say, there are no cheap places to live in california! But of course there are! You're just not going to find them in the popular big cities that's all! But what's wrong with living in a nice place that no one has heard of before? Nothing as far as I'm concerned.

• If you're determined or have to (because of work) live in the San Fran or L.A. you're going to have to suck it up. The reality is its' going to be very expensive. But if you have choices than there are plenty of other places to live in California that are quite cheap. Remember California is very large state, in fact it's the 3rd largest state in the nation so there is plenty of room for everyone regardless of their income.

• The bigger CA cities and their surrounding areas have sprawled creating distant suburbs like  Tracy, Stockton, and Modesto which are an easy commute to San Francisco. They have an excellent transit system, BART which makes getting around a breeze. For LA Lancaster, Palmdale, Riverside, San Bernardino are also cheaper and commutable. Of course if you're not on the transit route the price you pay is a long commute of at least 2 hours each way.

California truly does seem to offer it all. We've written about the Happiest Places and found one in San Luis Obispo. We've looked at some of the nicest and best places to live in California like Pleasanton. Now we've even managed to find some cheap places to live!  Sure this crazy state is having it's challenges but isn't every state? and after all it is California!

The Best Place To Live In California

Naming the best place to live in California is not easy simply because there are so many. It has to be one of the most diverse states in terms of natural terrain. Everything literally from the beach to mountains and all manner of natural beauty in between. In addition to the natural diversity and beauty it possesses there is also diversity in cultural and economic areas. Living in California offers options unmatched in other locations and it will be up to you to answer the question 'what city should I live in' and pick what is best for you but here are some of my choices to get you started on your quest to find that best place to live in California.

I have to admit that I have a love for the southern half of California but I know my love is not shared by everyone at least some like Northern California as much for equally justifiable reasons. My choices in the southern half of the state, although not the cheapest places to live, reflect my bias and so these may not resonate with your taste but I think there are some very good reasons for the cities I choose. Hopefully you will be open to at least investigating these gems of the west while you consider the best places to live in California.

Beverly Hills California

To start the conversation about the best of California let's go to Beverly Hills California. Beverly Hills holds the distinction of being one of the most well-known areas of California.

Beverly Hills California

It is near Los Angeles as well as Santa Monica. Many consider Beverly Hills to be among the most desirable locations to live in the world. It certainly is home to some of the most wealthy and prestigious people in the world.

The school system in Beverly Hills is one of the best in the nation. With weather that is near perfect year-round and nearly every square inch of the city is well manicured. There are many places of interest in Beverly Hills. Including restaurants, parks, famous boutiques, Art Galleries and museums. The crime rate in Beverly Hills is extremely low making it a safe place to live and secure as you would expect from any affluent city.

It has the unique distinction of being a sunny little town enhanced by the safety, security and attention to detail made possible by its wealthy residents plus the fact that is very near to Los Angeles and all it has to offer.

Tour California

Redwoods and California Wine Country Overnight Tour - Petroleum Free Tour

San Luis Obispo

Second on my list is the San Luis Obispo California area. This beautiful little area along the central California coast might be best described as a tiny piece of heaven. The weather is near perfect year-round with over 95% of the days being sunny. The temperature never gets too hot and never gets too cold. Cal Poly University being in San Luis Obispo help it to maintain a low unemployment rate as well as being a large contributor to the local economy. Because of the weather, the low unemployment rate and low crime rate this little piece of heaven may be as perfect as it comes. One thing that detracts and may keep it from holding that ‘perfection’ title is the cost of living. Unfortunately the cost of living in San Luis Obispo is on the expensive side for most people and may contribute to keeping this area small and avoiding some of the pitfalls experienced by some of the other most beautiful California locations. Some old-timers I know tell me about Los Angeles 40-50 years ago and it makes me want to cry. Too many people have a detrimental effect on things over time. Sad really but it is the way we humans generally affect our environment.

Next on our list is the Santa Barbara area of California. It too is an expensive place to live but its proximity to Los Angeles make it a good choice for many that would like to live outside the city while still staying within driving distance. Most places in Los Angeles are within 2 to 3 hours of Santa Barbara depending of course on traffic conditions. For people who have amassed a small fortune Santa Barbara can be a wonderful choice but if your intention is to find a job and reasonable priced housing Santa Barbara may not be the best choice. Like its neighbour to the north San Luis Obispo it enjoys nearly perfect year-round weather and all the benefits of being ocean side as well. This might be the best place for a wealthy retired couple in California.

San Diego California

Last on my list is beautiful San Diego California. If you have ever visited San Diego you'll know exactly the reasons it's on this list. It is in the top 10 wealthiest cities in the United States and also within the top 10 as far as safety. It has a wide diversity of industry including computer science, electronics, ship manufacturing, the defence industry, tourism, finance, biotechnology and last but not least, agriculture. There is a natural diversity of terrain in the area coupled with everything from beaches to forests for the lucky residents to enjoy. There is a diversity of culture heavily influenced by its Latin neighbour to the south. National sports teams, museums, famous gardens and reserve habitats are among just a few of the offerings to those in the area. As with any big city it has areas that are not optimal but overall it is a safe city. Its education system is diverse and San Diego has the distinction of being in the top 10 most educated cities in the US. A nice bonus about this are is that you can find soem of the cheaper places to live in California.

As I stated early in this post my bias is distorted toward the southern half of California and the listed cities are only a few that make up the list of best place to live in California. After all it is one of the best states to live in but finding your own city that perfectly fits your lifestyle, income and choice of activities may take a little work. If you had to pick a location to do it, California is rich in potential locations for just about any persons idea of perfection although they may not be the cheapest places to live in the world.