The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 358 towns of 500–10,000 people in California. #1 is Blackhawk, CA.

1. 25Loomis, California

   Better for families than 94% of California towns

   Loomis is a town of 6,836 people in Placer County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 78% of California towns.

   6,836 people · Placer County · median home $634,500 · income $81,487 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

   Full Loomis, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Rolling Hills Estates, California

   Better for families than 94% of California towns

   Rolling Hills Estates is a city of 8,280 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of California towns and better for retirees than 78% of California towns.

   8,280 people · Los Angeles County · median home $1,692,600 · income $191,895 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

   Full Rolling Hills Estates, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Reliez Valley, California

   Better for families than 95% of California towns

   Reliez Valley is a community of 3,354 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks better transit than 97% of California towns and more upscale than 95% of California towns.

   3,354 people · Contra Costa County · median home $1,740,200 · income $249,864 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

   Full Reliez Valley, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Atherton, California

   Better for families than 95% of California towns

   Atherton is a town of 7,188 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of California towns and better transit than 99% of California towns.

   7,188 people · San Mateo County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

   Full Atherton, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Casa Conejo, California

   Better for families than 96% of California towns

   Casa Conejo is a community of 3,267 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of California towns and more upscale than 79% of California towns.

   3,267 people · Ventura County · median home $888,400 · income $147,616 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

   Full Casa Conejo, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Portola Valley, California

   Better for families than 96% of California towns

   Portola Valley is a town of 4,456 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 99% of California towns and more upscale than 98% of California towns.

   4,456 people · San Mateo County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

   Full Portola Valley, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Villa Park, California

   Better for families than 96% of California towns

   Villa Park is a city of 5,843 people in Orange County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of California towns and more of a college town than 79% of California towns.

   5,843 people · Orange County · median home $1,871,700 · income $202,245 · Jan low 49°F · 0 in snow

   Full Villa Park, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Rancho Murieta, California

   Better for families than 96% of California towns

   Rancho Murieta is a community of 5,903 people in Sacramento County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 96% of California towns and quieter than 87% of California towns.

   5,903 people · Sacramento County · median home $715,700 · income $140,061 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

   Full Rancho Murieta, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Las Flores, California

   Better for families than 96% of California towns

   Las Flores is a community of 5,995 people in Orange County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of California towns and better for young professionals than 84% of California towns.

   5,995 people · Orange County · median home $1,119,100 · income $211,782 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

   Full Las Flores, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16San Antonio Heights, California

    Better for families than 97% of California towns

    San Antonio Heights is a community of 3,441 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of California towns and more upscale than 88% of California towns.

    3,441 people · San Bernardino County · median home $1,071,800 · income $138,750 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full San Antonio Heights, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Monte Sereno, California

    Better for families than 97% of California towns

    Monte Sereno is a city of 3,479 people in Santa Clara County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of California towns and better for cycling than 87% of California towns.

    3,479 people · Santa Clara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Monte Sereno, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Bonadelle Ranchos, California

    Better for families than 97% of California towns

    Bonadelle Ranchos is a community of 5,497 people in Madera County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 100% of California towns and more upscale than 77% of California towns.

    5,497 people · Madera County · median home $486,800 · income $132,723 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full Bonadelle Ranchos, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Kentfield, California

    Better for families than 97% of California towns

    Kentfield is a community of 6,808 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of California towns and more upscale than 97% of California towns.

    6,808 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $249,896 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

    Full Kentfield, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Palo Cedro, California

    Better for families than 98% of California towns

    Palo Cedro is a community of 2,931 people in Shasta County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 79% of California towns and better for retirees than 78% of California towns.

    2,931 people · Shasta County · median home $551,600 · income $120,152 · Jan low 38°F · 1 in snow

    Full Palo Cedro, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Rancho Santa Fe, California

    Better for families than 98% of California towns

    Rancho Santa Fe is a community of 3,156 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns and more upscale than 95% of California towns.

    3,156 people · San Diego County · median home $2,000,001 · income $175,792 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full Rancho Santa Fe, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Santa Rosa Valley, California

    Better for families than 98% of California towns

    Santa Rosa Valley is a community of 3,312 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 93% of California towns and more upscale than 93% of California towns.

    3,312 people · Ventura County · median home $1,706,200 · income $213,973 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full Santa Rosa Valley, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Plumas Lake, California

    Better for families than 98% of California towns

    Plumas Lake is a community of 8,126 people in Yuba County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 77% of California towns.

    8,126 people · Yuba County · median home $555,300 · income $120,408 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full Plumas Lake, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Los Altos Hills, California

    Better for families than 98% of California towns

    Los Altos Hills is a town of 8,489 people in Santa Clara County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of California towns and better for retirees than 91% of California towns.

    8,489 people · Santa Clara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Los Altos Hills, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Fairbanks Ranch, California

    Better for families than 99% of California towns

    Fairbanks Ranch is a community of 3,002 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of California towns and better for retirees than 72% of California towns.

    3,002 people · San Diego County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full Fairbanks Ranch, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Loyola, California

    Better for families than 99% of California towns

    Loyola is a community of 3,491 people in Santa Clara County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of California towns and better for retirees than 89% of California towns.

    3,491 people · Santa Clara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

    Full Loyola, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Camino Tassajara, California

    Better for families than 99% of California towns

    Camino Tassajara is a community of 4,951 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of California towns and better transit than 91% of California towns.

    4,951 people · Contra Costa County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 42°F · 1 in snow

    Full Camino Tassajara, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Woodside, California

    Better for families than 99% of California towns

    Woodside is a town of 5,309 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of California towns and more upscale than 96% of California towns.

    5,309 people · San Mateo County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Woodside, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California

    Better for families than 99% of California towns

    Lucas Valley-Marinwood is a community of 6,259 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of California towns and better for retirees than 95% of California towns.

    6,259 people · Marin County · median home $1,445,600 · income $200,761 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Emerald Lake Hills, California

    Better for families than 100% of California towns

    Emerald Lake Hills is a community of 4,406 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of California towns and better for cycling than 87% of California towns.

    4,406 people · San Mateo County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Emerald Lake Hills, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Blackhawk, California

    Better for families than 100% of California towns

    Blackhawk is a community of 9,637 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of California towns and better for retirees than 83% of California towns.

    9,637 people · Contra Costa County · median home $2,000,001 · income $245,208 · Jan low 42°F · 1 in snow

    Full Blackhawk, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More California rankings

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• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in California
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Cheapest Homes
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• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in California

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
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• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
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