The Bay Area, however, may be the best region. Located 18 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Santee is one affordable suburb that keeps you out of the hustle and bustle of a major city, while still providing you with convenient access to San Diego. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is the biggest employer in the city, employing around 8,000 people. is a California coastal town which frequently tops lists as one of America’s most desirable places to live. In our evaluation of the best cities to raise a family in Southern California, the largest cities didn’t crack the top 10, making way for smaller cities where you can actually get to know your neighbors, find a relatively decent commute and affordable housing (the standards are way different here than in other parts of the country). In addition, there are many families that live here, which makes it a wonderful place to raise kids. Clovis is a small town where everyone feels like family. Find an agent . The schools are fantastic and all local shops and people are incredibly nice and super friendly. California is one of the most culturally diverse states in America, and few capture that better than San Diego. My neighborhood is quite, safe, and friendly. Depends what you mean by affordable, of course, but if we take it to be a relative term. How did we choose the safest places to live in California? In our evaluation of the best cities to raise a family in Southern California, the largest cities didn’t crack the top 10, making way for smaller cities where you can actually get to know your neighbors, find a relatively decent commute and affordable housing (the standards are way different here than in other parts of the country). Vacaville is a city located in Northern California. I would like to see more community events throughout the year. I honestly find that hard to believe, I believe a good portion of the Central Valley rural towns are conservative. This is at the top chart which has substantial renter-population.its rental units make up to 44.7 percent of the total housing. El Dorado Hills has been a breath of fresh air! Goleta. I would like to see more community events throughout the year. San Anselmo, California is a industrial urban town of more than 12,000 residents. With a median income of $52,000, Taft is one of the most affordable cities to live in California in terms of home price to income ratio. Also noted as liberal location? However most of woodbridge entails Vineyards and places to wine taste. Last but not least is rural, yet sophisticated, Sebastopol, already well-known to readers of Livability as it was rated ninth on our list of the 100 Best Small Towns 2015 and third on our list of the 100 Best Small Towns 2016. However It does have issues with dogs roaming the streets (owner issues), animal control is always busy. -Palo Alto/Menlo Park ($$$$) - Suburbs full of rich-ass VC types. If you’re the outdoorsy type who loves to hike, you definitely want to take a trip up to the hills in Lagoon Valley and soak in the views. 3 reviews. The people of San Marino are extremely welcoming and open minded individuals. San Rafael (Suburb of Marin County) Unemployment Rate: 5.4% Average Commute Time: 31 minutes. The job market here is blooming, jobs… [read more] View nearby homes See details It's very safe, there's lots of sports and nature, it's a very active community, and the forest is your backyard. With beautiful beaches, a lucrative tech boom and year-round pleasant weather. Best affordable city to live in California? I want to know where is the most affordable place to locate to? The people here are incredibly friendly and inviting, the Main Street restaurants and shops are local and crime is almost non-existent. But prices have gone up. The median household income here is $62,349 with median home value settling at $332,600, which is actually a great deal for California real estate. We were getting very tired of the endless traffic, rude people, crappy public schools and EXPENSIVE homes in the Bay. Based on data including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, as well as reviews from students and parents. I know Gold River in general is not the most diverse but I find my neighborhood area is, and there are lots of friendly people.Read 47 Reviews, Former Resident: The open views and the hot days are the best feature. #25 Best Value of 110 Cheap Motels in California “ The staff are lovely and while the hotels a bit dated it is clean, comfortable and comparatively cheap to other hotels in San Francisco. The job market here is blooming, jobs… [read more] View nearby homes See details Top coastal Suburbs Southern California 31 items ranked. Santa Cruz where I lived for 20 years is the quintessential California beach town with lots of surfers and great spots, but is no longer affordable as it has been invaded by Silicon Valley techies. Niche compiled a list of the 50 best American suburbs to live in for 2019. If there is one thing I would change about Clovis it would definitely be having an In-N-Out.. the cravings always win!Read 287 Reviews, Current Resident: We’ve lived in Newman for about 11 years now and I do feel like it considerably safe. Competitive schools (top notch), close to BART, close to Berkeley, SF and other great areas. But there are multiple reasons it remains an appealing prospect for anyone looking for a place to live in California. Due to the great school district and the central location near the beach, the median home price is around $1,000,000. Folsom is also wonderful for families, parents can be sure their children are going to excellent schools and their are many complexes which offer sports. 7 cheapest places to live in California (that are actually cool) If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest place to live in California, you won’t find it on this list. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, and other data sources. The newly opened Haven City Market offers a variety of food vendors. So the Lodi Sherrif patrols woodbridge.Read 6 Reviews, Current Resident: Mountain House is the 12th place I've lived in in my life. The cost of living is expensive, however the quality of homes are worth the pay. 1. We don't have much crime in our neighborhood. I do not hear or notice any substantial crimes going on in this area very often. The people here are incredibly friendly and inviting, the Main Street restaurants and shops are local and crime is almost non-existent. I always feel so welcomed and happy no matter where I step foot in this city. All places are great, but Orinda is so ideal for us. We are close to everything, so it makes traveling a breeze. There are over 20 individual neighborhoods in Irvine so determining the best is difficult. Sacramento takes first place on our list of the best places to live in California in 2020. However It does have issues with dogs roaming the streets (owner issues), animal control is always busy.Read 27 Reviews, Niche User: It is an excellent gated equestrian community to raise a family.Read 2 Reviews, Current Resident: Orinda is a dream of a town! 5. Rancho Cucamonga contains multiple unique and local places to eat. It has two cities in the top 10. So much weight has lifted from our stressed out life in the Bay. We are vegetarians who rarely eat out so grocerys wont be a problem. We fell in love with El Dorado Hills mostly because of the amazing neighborhoods, friendly people, endless recreational opportunities and great schools. Everyone is friendly and they have a great school near by. Best Cheap Car Insurance. We bit the bullet and moved to Lamorinda. This also makes it more affordable than other parts of California, and although there are not many stores in Mountain House, they are not too far away. 1. This city is among the cheapest places to rent in Northern California and among the most affordable suburbs of San Francisco. There is rarely anything bad happening and everyone knows each other. I think that adding more events in Seal Beach would bring us all closer together. Current Resident: Seal Beach is a small, quaint city on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles, and it is my absolute favorite place to live thus far! San Jose's economy has been named the fastest-growing in the U.S., and that growth and economic stability has been driven by the tech industry. Our favorite parts of El Dorado Hills now that we've lived here is the amazing community involvement and schools, all the recreation SOOO close by, biking, hiking, Folsom Lake boating, fishing, camping, wine tasting, fun community events, and the list goes on. California is one the best areas to ... facilities and recreation centers following are the areas that are the most affordable and cheapest places to live in California. Google James Peterson El Dorado Hills Realtor for some awesome area content.Read 148 Reviews, Current Resident: As someone who has moved from the bay area, Clovis is perfect. 1. 1) Vacaville The city of Vacaville is located just an hour outside of San Francisco. San Pablo is known for … 7. Click on up and down arrows to affect item's ranking Add item. The people of San Marino are extremely welcoming and open minded individuals. Overall, there is something here for everyone to enjoy and I absolutely love it. We all look out for each other and respect one other. The California cities listed above have impeccably low crime rates when compared to other cities in the state. Need an affordable home in California? The American River is a focal point in the city offering water-sports, like kayaking, tubing, and paddle boarding; It also has many wonderful trails which people can hike or bike ride. Situated between the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, the Sierra Nevada on the west, and the El Paso … Best and Most Affordable Suburbs Texas boasts the most cities that rank among the best suburbs for growing families, with nine suburbs. #1: Yucca Valley. Negatives PG&E, going solar though. We’ve lived in Newman for about 11 years now and I do feel like it considerably safe. Regardless, it’s a fairly peaceful city for commuters (good paying jobs are scarce). Figuring out the best suburbs around Los Angeles was pretty simple; we just needed to list several things that people like, and then find out which cities have the most of those things. San Marino is a very small suburban town near Los Angeles, CA. While at $504,000, the median home value is more than others on this list, Oxnard is one of the most affordable beachfront living spots in California. We are 45 minutes away from Bakersfield, 3 hours away from Disneyland, and 5 hours away from San Francisco. It is also very peaceful, violence is not really seen where I live. Golf, winery visits and strolls on Mandalay Beach are all part of living in Oxnard. As someone who has moved from the bay area, Clovis is perfect. Vacaville is a city located in Northern California. 7 cheapest places to live in California (that are actually cool) If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest place to live in California, you won’t find it on this list. I joined a public school as an 8th grader expecting old, close groups that would stick together, but while there were close-knit groups, the people were usually very friendly. Orinda is a dream of a town! I love living in Taft because I love the small community, the people, and being close to all my family. There is enough privacy for everyone. The people here are incredibly friendly and inviting, the Main Street restaurants and shops are local and crime is … Overall, there is something here for everyone to enjoy and I absolutely love it.Read 104 Reviews, Former Resident: Tahoe is absolutely a gorgeous and lovely place to live. The schools provide a great amount of education for incoming students as well! -Marin ($$$$) - Rich-ass hippies. It has only one elementary (Public). Because of the low activity, not as many police are on patrol in the area, but there are several police stations close by so they respond quickly. Usually, everybody's families all live here, so you never have to worry about traveling far. With the great outdoors in its backyard, Novato is one of the most serene cities in Northern California. Tahoe is absolutely a gorgeous and lovely place to live. San Diego, considered one of the best places to live in the world, is truly a melting pot of cultures. There is enough privacy for everyone. Here are some of the most affordable places to live in California, based on the average home price and the median family income. There are several delicious restaurants to try on Main Street Seal Beach as well as off of Pacific Coast Highway. In addition, there are many families that live here, which makes it a wonderful place to raise kids. With beautiful beaches, a lucrative tech boom and year-round pleasant weather,  California has a reputation as one of the most expensive states to live in the U.S. You may be surprised to hear that there are still some affordable places to set up home – you just have to know the right place to look! If you enjoy shopping or dining there is the newly crafted Palladio and there is old town Folsom which offers historic buildings. We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible: Good question. We bit the bullet and moved to Lamorinda. The cost of living is expensive, however the quality of homes are worth the pay. The Most Affordable Cities in California in 2019. Carmel Valley is a suburb known for its great school districts and beautiful homes. Other than that, this city should be more on the map! Every once in a while there is a break in but it's not a huge issueRead 7 Reviews, Current Resident: San Marino is a very small suburban town near Los Angeles, CA. It's been life changing living here, and I cannot wait to see how Seal Beach grows!Read 46 Reviews, Current Resident: Great place to live and great places to eat too. is a city located in Northern California. Based on local search volume, the strength of community and popular schools, here are the top 10 Irvine neighborhoods we’ve identified . #25 Best Value of 110 Cheap Motels in California “ The staff are lovely and while the hotels a bit dated it is clean, comfortable and comparatively cheap to other hotels in San Francisco. Situated between the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, the Sierra Nevada on the west, and the El Paso Mountains on the south, Ridgecrest was once predominantly a farming community. Have not really seen much crime in this area. There two date farms in the area and of course, hot springs. Explore the best suburbs to buy a house based on home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs, and real estate trends. It is located on the Kern River, just north of Los Angeles. As everywhere, there are affordable places to live in California, which can be paramount if you’re on the move and repaying student loans. Competitive schools (top notch), close to BART, close to Berkeley, SF and other great areas. It is also very peaceful, violence is not really seen where I live.Read 5 Reviews, Current Resident: This is more of a town rather a city. With a median home value of $275,100, Vacaville really is one of the most affordable places to live in California. Early morning trail walking are a great thing to do, remember to bring along some water. The state capital is not only an affordable place to live, but also a vibrant destination packed with fun things to do. With a median home value of $275,100, Vacaville really is one of the most affordable places to live in California. With a median home value of  $169,500, Ridgecrest could be the perfect location to live an affordable life in California. Statistically speaking, 38 percent of residents are single and 71 percent own their own homes, while median household income is $67,641. It’s perfect climate, and gorgeous coastline are just a couple of the reasons why people love to call Ventura home. Delicious food, white-sand beaches, as well as close-knit vibes of a relatively small town make Long Beach an amazing place to live in. I always feel so welcomed and happy no matter where I step foot in this city. It is a quiet area where you can live peacefully. Taking the No. If you happen to be interested in finding out about the best places to retire in Southern California, make sure to check out this helpful list. 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