From the beautiful beaches to the world-renowned redwood forests, California spans 900 miles along the Pacific coast and is the third-largest state in the U.S. The Golden State is home to almost 40 million people, making it the most populous state in the country. Full of iconic attractions, places and cities — think Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge and Hollywood, to name a few — people love this state.
With a landmass of 155,779 square miles and so many cities to choose from, where are the best places to live in California? Well, that depends on your budget and interests. Whether you're a surfer looking to hang 10 or a wannabe actor seeking stardom, there's a city that's right for you.
Take a look at our list to see the best places to live in California.
Disneyland is in Anaheim so Mickey Mouse will be your neighbor! Snag yourself a season pass to Disneyland and you'll have endless entertainment all year long. It's the happiest place on earth. Well, that's what Disney lovers will say, anyway.
Disney aside, Anaheim is a great city for families. It's a suburban city full of apartments and homes that are affordable, compared to other cities in California. It's also safe with good school systems.
You can enjoy time outside with a year-round mild climate, too. Take a walk through Yorba Regional Park or take your furry friend to La Palma Dog Park. Anaheim is full of parks, trails and outdoor activities. Everyone will find something to do here.
Irvine is home to one of the famous UC schools — UC – Irvine. But there are eight other universities in the town, as well. If you're looking for a city with many opportunities for higher education, this is a great pick.
Irvine is making gaming history as the headquarters for Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard Entertainment is the largest employer in the city and produced popular games like "Worlds of Warcraft" and "Diablo."
A few other fun facts about Irvine: SNL star and actor Will Ferrell was born and raised in here. You can check out his elementary, junior and high school. And Irvine was the backdrop for scenes from "Ocean's 11."
Apartments in Irvine range in price but the city is in a great location and is constantly ranked one of the safest cities in California. Irvine is full of great parks, trails and sanctuaries so you'll get a good blend of nature and city life.
Los Angeles, better known as L.A., is the second-most-populated city in the nation. When you think of L.A., you may think about celebrities and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, complete with more than 2,600 stars. From Universal Studios to Warner Bros., the film and TV industries have several headquarters here. Want to see the set of Central Perk from "Friends?" You can do that here. Care to visit Universal Studios theme park? Go ahead! For any film or TV buff, this is the city for you.
Los Angeles is one of the best places to live in California because it offers a little bit of everything. You're within close proximity to several beaches. You can hike Griffith Park and see the Hollywood sign, see fossils from the Ice Age at the La Brea Tar Pits, check out more than 100 museums within the city and eat at a variety of restaurants and bars. To summarize, there's no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles.
The City of Angels is home to more than 10 million people. Regardless of what you're looking for, you'll likely find it here in this diverse, urban city.
If you're a sports fanatic, then you've found your city. Oakland, CA, is the only city in the state to have three professional sports teams. You've got the Raiders, the Warriors and the A's. Between football, basketball and baseball, you'll be able to cheer on the home team year-round in one of the best places to live in California. Not a sports fan? Don't worry. Oakland has a lot more to offer than sports.
One fun fact is that you'll find hundreds of gnomes living here, too. Yes, you read that right — gnomes! Throughout the city, painted gnomes grace the utility poles. A mysterious artist paints them throughout the city for you to discover.
Oakland is a diverse city full of culture and history. It has a mild climate year-round and is full of great parks, trails and outdoor areas. Living in Oakland you'll find the cost of apartments is comparable to other California cities.
Palm Springs is a diamond in the desert. It's an affordable city with luxurious amenities like swimming pools, golf courses and tennis for all. If cities like L.A. or San Francisco are too big for you, Palm Springs is a perfect pick.
Tourists love it here but it's also a popular place for retirees. Palm Springs is one of the best places to live in California if you're looking for a low-key, relaxed atmosphere while still having the perks of California living. You'll find great apartments in Palm Springs, lots of outdoor activities and a diverse cultural scene. But, it's in the desert so expect extreme temperatures!
Palo Alto, also called “The Birthplace of Silicon Valley," is one of the best places to live in California. It's also a world-renowned tech hub. Some of the world's most infamous tech unicorns, like Apple and Tesla, emerged from Palo Alto. Nearby is Stanford University, a top-ranked college. Palo Alto is a great city for tech-oriented students or individuals who are looking to start a company or join the ranks of one of the booming tech companies located there.
While Palo Alto is full of new tech and innovation, it's also full of rich history. Spanish settlers explored and settled here. The city is even named after a 1,000-year-old tree located along the San Francisquito Creek.
This city is smaller compared to other cities in California, with around 65,000 residents. It's a beautiful and safe place to live but you'll find that rent and home prices are more expensive.
If you want to live in the heart of the state, Sacramento is the city for you as it's the state's capital.
This city is known for some pretty cool things. First, its nickname is the “City of Trees," because it has more trees per capita than any other city in the world — although Paris is also a top contender. Despite the intense summer heat, the abundance of trees actually helps cool the city down. The community has lush, green trees and there is beauty in nature everywhere around you.
Another cool thing about Sacramento is its devotion to farm-to-fork eating. What's that you may ask? Sacramento is full of produce and farmer's markets — exactly 40 of them. That's right! Forty in one city alone. Local farmers provide produce to local restaurants so the food you're eating is literally from the farm straight to your fork (or mouth). You'll eat well here.
This is a large city and you'll find 1.5 million people living in Sacramento. You'll also have plenty of things to do and will enjoy walking around this tree-lined city.
If you're looking for a city with nostalgic, old-town beach feels, San Clemente is for you. Located right on the beach in Orange County, this charming city is like a postcard.
You've got the San Clemente Pier plunging into the ocean. You can take a stroll, go fishing or have a bite to eat. The beaches are stunning and appeal to avid surfers and young children alike. The lifeguards ensure that surfers have their own area to catch a wave while boogie boarders and families have their own space to swim in the ocean, too. Take a stroll along the coast on some awesome beach-side trails, too.
There are several boutique stores and restaurants on the famous T-street, as well. San Clemente is one of the best places to live in California if you're looking for a quaint beach-side town. You can find apartments in the city that meet your budget and lifestyle needs.
San Diego is a beautiful, ocean-side city known for its great weather and scenic views. The average temperature is 70 degrees, so it's sunny and pleasant almost every day of the year. You'll find amazing beaches here and a town full of friendly people.
The U.S. Navy is the biggest employer in the city and has a naval base there. The Pacific Fleet stations in San Diego with 46 navy ships. Take a harbor cruise or visit the maritime museum to learn more about the naval history in San Diego.
If you're looking for a city that's easy-going, look no further. It's a tourist destination, but it's also home to over 3 million people. You can find a great apartment here and make it your next home.
The Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and Alcatraz are just some of the iconic things you'll find when living in San Francisco. You'll also live in a city that's full of diversity. San Francisco is known for being a liberal, open-minded city. In fact, it was home to the hippie movement of the '60s. If you're looking for a city that's progressive, this is a good place to consider.
It's also full of career opportunities. The tech sector is booming so you'll find great job prospects in that industry. Keep in mind that the cost of living is more expensive here than in other cities in California.
San Francisco is both a large, urban city and a nature retreat. You'll find everything you need downtown but then you can escape to Muir Woods where you'll see redwood trees and forest scenes. If you're looking for the best place to live in California, San Fran might be a good option to consider.
The pier in Santa Monica is arguably the most famous one of all. This iconic pier along the coast has an amusement park complete with a Ferris wheel (it's solar-powered!), roller coasters and funnel cakes to go around. While that's a tourist location, it's fun for locals to stroll the pier and beach after a busy day at work.
Santa Monica is one of the best places to live in California because it's a city that has it all. You'll find great restaurants and shopping in the downtown area. You'll enjoy relaxing walks along the beach. And you can rent great apartments in the city center. The demographics skew younger as you'll find young professionals making this city home. Rent prices are steeper compared to other cities, but it's a coveted place to live in California.
So, have we convinced you that California is the place for you? Whether you're looking for a location in a bustling metro area or a beach-side apartment with ocean views, there are several best places to live in California. Pick your city, find your apartment and soon the Golden State will be your new home.
Sage Singleton is a writer from Salt Lake City with a passion for literature and words. She enjoys writing articles that will inspire, educate and influence readers. She loves that words have the power to create change and make a positive impact in the world. Some of her work has been featured on LendingTree, Venture Beat, Architectural Digest, Porch.com and Homes.com. In her free time, Sage loves traveling, reading and learning French.