The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California

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

1. 25Rexland Acres, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   Rexland Acres is a community of 3,563 people in Kern County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 95% of California towns and more walkable than 74% of California towns.

   3,563 people · Kern County · median home $200,200 · income $56,078 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

   Full Rexland Acres, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Harbison Canyon, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   Harbison Canyon is a community of 4,048 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks better for families than 85% of California towns and more of a college town than 83% of California towns.

   4,048 people · San Diego County · median home $688,600 · income $130,302 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

3. 23Lucerne Valley, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   Lucerne Valley is a community of 5,331 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 82% of California towns and quieter than 79% of California towns.

   5,331 people · San Bernardino County · median home $269,100 · income $54,788 · Jan low 24°F · 38 in snow

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

4. 22Benton Park, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   Benton Park is a community of 5,333 people in Kern County, California. It also ranks more walkable than 88% of California towns and more vibrant than 81% of California towns.

   5,333 people · Kern County · median home $240,600 · income $49,717 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

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

5. 21Pleasure Point, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% 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 hipper 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 →

6. 20Frazier Park, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   Frazier Park is a community of 2,592 people in Kern County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of California towns and hipper than 80% of California towns.

   2,592 people · Kern County · median home $371,600 · income $47,930 · Jan low 39°F · 3 in snow

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

7. 19Borrego Springs, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% 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 retirees than 96% 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 →

8. 18Mission Hills, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   Mission Hills is a community of 3,571 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks better for families than 82% of California towns and easier by car than 82% of California towns.

   3,571 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $492,900 · income $111,974 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

9. 17Lenwood, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   Lenwood is a community of 3,623 people in San Bernardino County, California. The median home is worth $194,300 (typical California town: $596,900).

   3,623 people · San Bernardino County · median home $194,300 · income $78,958 · Jan low 35°F · 0 in snow

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

10. 16Silver Lakes, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    Silver Lakes is a community of 6,317 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for families than 92% of California towns.

    6,317 people · San Bernardino County · median home $383,600 · income $115,829 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

    Full Silver Lakes, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Garnet, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    Garnet is a community of 7,118 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 85% of California towns and easier by car than 81% of California towns.

    7,118 people · Riverside County · median home $267,900 · income $72,694 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

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

12. 14Thousand Palms, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    Thousand Palms is a community of 7,967 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of California towns and easier by car than 89% of California towns.

    7,967 people · Riverside County · median home $268,700 · income $77,000 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

    Full Thousand Palms, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Capitola, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    Capitola is a city of 9,938 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks more vibrant than 98% of California towns and hipper than 97% of California towns.

    9,938 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $783,000 · income $102,976 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

14. 12Caruthers, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Caruthers is a community of 2,613 people in Fresno County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 98% of California towns and better for cycling than 70% of California towns.

    2,613 people · Fresno County · median home $334,300 · income $88,021 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

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

15. 11Homestead Valley, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Homestead Valley is a community of 2,789 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks quieter than 96% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 92% of California towns.

    2,789 people · San Bernardino County · median home $245,900 · income $45,323 · Jan low 42°F · 1 in snow

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

16. 10Crest, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Crest is a community of 2,828 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks better for families than 81% of California towns and quieter than 78% of California towns.

    2,828 people · San Diego County · median home $724,500 · income $110,000 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

17. 9Wrightwood, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Wrightwood is a community of 4,720 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of California towns and better for retirees than 95% 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 →

18. 8Needles, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Needles is a city of 4,931 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks quieter than 86% of California towns and easier by car than 85% of California towns.

    4,931 people · San Bernardino County · median home $157,200 · income $38,243 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

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

19. 7Buellton, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Buellton is a city of 5,161 people in Santa Barbara County, California. The median home is worth $837,400 (typical California town: $596,900).

    5,161 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $837,400 · income $99,936 · Jan low 34°F · 0 in snow

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

20. 6Running Springs, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Running Springs is a community of 5,268 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns and quieter than 81% of California towns.

    5,268 people · San Bernardino County · median home $385,000 · income $81,516 · Jan low 29°F · 22 in snow

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

21. 5Cherry Valley, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Cherry Valley is a community of 6,509 people in Riverside County, California. The median home is worth $408,000 (typical California town: $596,900).

    6,509 people · Riverside County · median home $408,000 · income $76,895 · Jan low 40°F · 10 in snow

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

22. 4Vandenberg Village, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Vandenberg Village is a community of 7,308 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 87% of California towns and better for retirees than 84% of California towns.

    7,308 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $637,100 · income $110,904 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full Vandenberg Village, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Guadalupe, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    Guadalupe is a city of 8,057 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 93% of California towns and more seaside character than 91% of California towns.

    8,057 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $495,600 · income $66,930 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

24. 2Desert Edge, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of California towns

    Desert Edge is a community of 4,180 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of California towns and easier by car than 83% of California towns.

    4,180 people · Riverside County · median home $76,300 · income $37,429 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

    Full Desert Edge, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Joshua Tree, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of California towns

    Joshua Tree is a community of 6,489 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of California towns and hipper than 83% of California towns.

    6,489 people · San Bernardino County · median home $334,200 · income $66,291 · Jan low 38°F · 1 in snow

    Full Joshua Tree, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

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Same ranking, other places

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