The 25 Best College Small Towns in California

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

1. 25Keyes, California

   More of a college town than 95% of California towns

   Keyes is a community of 5,672 people in Stanislaus County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 98% of California towns and better for families than 73% of California towns.

   5,672 people · Stanislaus County · median home $344,100 · income $64,524 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

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

2. 24South Monrovia Island, California

   More of a college town than 95% of California towns

   South Monrovia Island is a community of 6,515 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks better transit than 96% of California towns and more walkable than 91% of California towns.

   6,515 people · Los Angeles County · median home $680,900 · income $104,444 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

   Full South Monrovia Island, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Interlaken, California

   More of a college town than 95% of California towns

   Interlaken is a community of 7,368 people in Santa Cruz County, California. The median home is worth $831,000 (typical California town: $596,900).

   7,368 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $831,000 · income $109,150 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

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

4. 22La Selva Beach, California

   More of a college town 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 →

5. 21Penngrove, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   

   Penngrove is a community of 2,637 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 89% of California towns and more seaside character than 87% of California towns.

   2,637 people · Sonoma County · median home $1,196,000 · income $107,147 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

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

6. 20Coronita, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   Coronita is a community of 2,639 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks more vibrant than 88% of California towns and better for families than 85% of California towns.

   2,639 people · Riverside County · median home $597,400 · income $111,932 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

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

7. 19Strawberry, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   Strawberry is a community of 5,447 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 97% of California towns and more seaside character than 97% of California towns.

   5,447 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $157,661 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

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

8. 18Pleasure Point, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   Pleasure Point is a community of 5,821 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 100% of California towns and better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns.

   5,821 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,183,600 · income $119,821 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

   Full Pleasure Point, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Boyes Hot Springs, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   Boyes Hot Springs is a community of 6,215 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 88% of California towns and more walkable than 83% of California towns.

   6,215 people · Sonoma County · median home $783,300 · income $101,288 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

   Full Boyes Hot Springs, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Montara, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    

    Montara is a community of 2,833 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of California towns and better for cycling than 95% of California towns.

    2,833 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,580,700 · income $233,826 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

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

11. 15Moss Beach, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    

    Moss Beach is a community of 3,214 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of California towns and better for cycling than 95% of California towns.

    3,214 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,123,100 · income $99,680 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full Moss Beach, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Casa Conejo, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    Casa Conejo is a community of 3,267 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks better for families than 96% 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 →

13. 13Seacliff, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    Seacliff is a community of 3,280 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns.

    3,280 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,143,600 · income $130,385 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

14. 12North El Monte, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    North El Monte is a community of 3,730 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks more walkable than 92% of California towns and more vibrant than 91% of California towns.

    3,730 people · Los Angeles County · median home $863,400 · income $99,447 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full North El Monte, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11South San Gabriel, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    South San Gabriel is a community of 7,920 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks more walkable than 94% of California towns and hipper than 87% of California towns.

    7,920 people · Los Angeles County · median home $690,400 · income $76,806 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full South San Gabriel, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Aptos, California

    More of a college town than 98% of California towns

    Aptos is a community of 6,664 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 92% of California towns and better for young professionals than 89% of California towns.

    6,664 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,093,300 · income $134,048 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

17. 9University of California-Davis, California

    More of a college town than 98% of California towns

    University of California-Davis is a community of 8,525 people in Yolo County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of California towns and better for young professionals than 98% of California towns.

    8,525 people · Yolo County · median home — · income $18,631 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full University of California-Davis, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8San Antonio Heights, California

    More of a college town than 99% of California towns

    San Antonio Heights is a community of 3,441 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for families than 97% 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 →

19. 7El Verano, California

    More of a college town than 99% of California towns

    El Verano is a community of 3,867 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks hipper than 94% of California towns and better for cycling than 94% of California towns.

    3,867 people · Sonoma County · median home $909,300 · income $123,738 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full El Verano, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Ivanhoe, California

    More of a college town than 99% of California towns

    Ivanhoe is a community of 4,468 people in Tulare County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of California towns and better transit than 80% of California towns.

    4,468 people · Tulare County · median home $228,100 · income $52,179 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

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

21. 5Sonoma State University, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    Sonoma State University is a community of 2,679 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 94% of California towns and hipper than 94% of California towns.

    2,679 people · Sonoma County · median home — · income — · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

    Full Sonoma State University, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Montalvin Manor, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    Montalvin Manor is a community of 3,099 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 100% of California towns and more walkable than 92% of California towns.

    3,099 people · Contra Costa County · median home $438,600 · income $79,542 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full Montalvin Manor, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Kentfield, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    Kentfield is a community of 6,808 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for families than 97% 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 →

24. 2California Polytechnic State University, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    California Polytechnic State University is a community of 8,583 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of California towns and better transit than 89% of California towns.

    8,583 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $564,700 · income — · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full California Polytechnic State University, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1University of California-Santa Barbara, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    University of California-Santa Barbara is a community of 9,710 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of California towns and better for cycling than 100% of California towns.

    9,710 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $452,900 · income $69,327 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full University of California-Santa Barbara, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More California rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in California
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Mildest Winters
• 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

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New Jersey