The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California

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

1. 25Santa Rosa Valley, California

   Better for retirees than 93% of California towns

   Santa Rosa Valley is a community of 3,312 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks better for families than 98% 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 →

2. 24Santa Venetia, California

   Better for retirees than 93% of California towns

   Santa Venetia is a community of 4,289 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 96% of California towns and more seaside character than 96% of California towns.

   4,289 people · Marin County · median home $1,006,300 · income $126,833 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

   Full Santa Venetia, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Mission Canyon, California

   Better for retirees than 94% of California towns

   Mission Canyon is a community of 2,540 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of California towns and better for young professionals than 90% of California towns.

   2,540 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $208,466 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

   Full Mission Canyon, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Bonny Doon, California

   Better for retirees than 94% of California towns

   Bonny Doon is a community of 2,868 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 97% of California towns and more seaside character than 95% of California towns.

   2,868 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,201,900 · income $144,813 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

   Full Bonny Doon, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Nevada City, California

   Better for retirees than 94% of California towns

   Nevada City is a city of 3,152 people in Nevada County, California. It also ranks hipper than 99% of California towns and better for cycling than 92% of California towns.

   3,152 people · Nevada County · median home $677,400 · income $75,792 · Jan low 35°F · 15 in snow

   Full Nevada City, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Bear Valley Springs, California

   Better for retirees than 94% of California towns

   Bear Valley Springs is a community of 5,592 people in Kern County, California. It also ranks quieter than 99% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 98% of California towns.

   5,592 people · Kern County · median home $496,200 · income $120,481 · Jan low 32°F · 0 in snow

   Full Bear Valley Springs, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Del Monte Forest, California

   Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

   Del Monte Forest is a community of 4,204 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of California towns and more seaside character than 95% of California towns.

   4,204 people · Monterey County · median home $2,000,001 · income $142,763 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

   Full Del Monte Forest, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Guerneville, California

   Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

   Guerneville is a community of 4,552 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns and hipper than 89% of California towns.

   4,552 people · Sonoma County · median home $600,600 · income $81,281 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

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

9. 17Wrightwood, California

   Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

   Wrightwood is a community of 4,720 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 99% of California towns.

   4,720 people · San Bernardino County · median home $470,700 · income $74,332 · Jan low 26°F · 62 in snow

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

10. 16Lake Wildwood, California

    Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

    Lake Wildwood is a community of 5,158 people in Nevada County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns and better for families than 83% of California towns.

    5,158 people · Nevada County · median home $551,800 · income $85,771 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

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

11. 15Cambria, California

    Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

    

    Cambria is a community of 5,678 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns and more seaside character than 97% of California towns.

    5,678 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $930,200 · income $99,147 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

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

12. 14Solvang, California

    Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

    Solvang is a city of 6,126 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 92% of California towns and better for young professionals than 87% of California towns.

    6,126 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $949,600 · income $109,091 · Jan low 34°F · 0 in snow

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

13. 13Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California

    Better for retirees than 95% of California towns

    Lucas Valley-Marinwood is a community of 6,259 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for families than 99% of California towns and more upscale than 98% 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 →

14. 12La Selva Beach, California

    Better for retirees than 96% of California towns

    La Selva Beach is a community of 2,531 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of California towns and more seaside character than 97% of California towns.

    2,531 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,325,700 · income $160,833 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full La Selva Beach, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Borrego Springs, California

    Better for retirees than 96% of California towns

    

    Borrego Springs is a community of 3,073 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks quieter than 98% of California towns and better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns.

    3,073 people · San Diego County · median home $402,700 · income $86,078 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full Borrego Springs, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Rancho Murieta, California

    Better for retirees than 96% of California towns

    Rancho Murieta is a community of 5,903 people in Sacramento County, California. It also ranks better for families 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 →

17. 9Ojai, California

    Better for retirees than 96% of California towns

    Ojai is a city of 7,637 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 96% of California towns and hipper than 85% of California towns.

    7,637 people · Ventura County · median home $1,016,200 · income $82,656 · Jan low 35°F · 0 in snow

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

18. 8Tiburon, California

    Better for retirees than 96% of California towns

    

    Tiburon is a town of 9,146 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of California towns and more seaside character than 97% of California towns.

    9,146 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $232,969 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

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

19. 7Cayucos, California

    Better for retirees than 97% of California towns

    Cayucos is a community of 2,505 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns and more seaside character than 99% of California towns.

    2,505 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $1,011,900 · income $87,235 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

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

20. 6Portola Valley, California

    Better for retirees than 97% 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 →

21. 5Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

    Better for retirees than 98% of California towns

    Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city of 3,220 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 100% of California towns and hipper than 99% of California towns.

    3,220 people · Monterey County · median home $2,000,001 · income $129,250 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full Carmel-by-the-Sea, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Mount Shasta, California

    Better for retirees than 98% of California towns

    Mount Shasta is a city of 3,223 people in Siskiyou County, California. It also ranks hipper than 94% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns.

    3,223 people · Siskiyou County · median home $330,200 · income $47,917 · Jan low 27°F · 89 in snow

    Full Mount Shasta, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Carmel Valley Village, California

    Better for retirees than 98% of California towns

    Carmel Valley Village is a community of 4,524 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns and better for families than 93% of California towns.

    4,524 people · Monterey County · median home $1,275,500 · income $156,161 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Carmel Valley Village, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Montecito, California

    Better for retirees than 98% of California towns

    Montecito is a community of 8,638 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 96% of California towns and more upscale than 95% of California towns.

    8,638 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $231,005 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

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

25. 1Yountville, California

    Better for retirees than 99% of California towns

    Yountville is a city of 3,436 people in Napa County, California. It also ranks hipper than 96% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns.

    3,436 people · Napa County · median home $802,200 · income $80,342 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

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

Price vs ranking

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