The 25 Hippest Small Towns in California

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

1. 25Cayucos, California

   Hipper than 93% 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 →

2. 24Post Mountain, California

   Hipper than 93% of California towns

   Post Mountain is a community of 3,032 people in Trinity County, California. It also ranks quieter than 98% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns.

   3,032 people · Trinity County · median home — · income — · Jan low 34°F · 3 in snow

   Full Post Mountain, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Montecito, California

   Hipper than 93% of California towns

   Montecito is a community of 8,638 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 98% of California towns and better for young professionals than 96% 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 →

4. 22Sonoma State University, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

   Sonoma State University is a community of 2,679 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of California towns and better for young professionals 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 →

5. 21Mount Shasta, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

   Mount Shasta is a city of 3,223 people in Siskiyou County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 98% 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 →

6. 20El Verano, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

   El Verano is a community of 3,867 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% 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 →

7. 19Wrightwood, California

   Hipper than 94% 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 →

8. 18Crockett, California

   Hipper than 95% of California towns

   Crockett is a community of 3,242 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of California towns and more seaside character than 89% of California towns.

   3,242 people · Contra Costa County · median home $776,100 · income $110,899 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

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

9. 17Sonora, California

   Hipper than 95% of California towns

   Sonora is a city of 5,003 people in Tuolumne County, California. The median home is worth $422,300 (typical California town: $596,900).

   5,003 people · Tuolumne County · median home $422,300 · income $82,690 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

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

10. 16Yountville, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

    Yountville is a city of 3,436 people in Napa County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 99% 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 →

11. 15East Pasadena, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

    East Pasadena is a community of 6,021 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks better transit than 99% of California towns and more vibrant than 98% of California towns.

    6,021 people · Los Angeles County · median home $1,069,200 · income $109,136 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full East Pasadena, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Contra Costa Centre, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

    Contra Costa Centre is a community of 6,808 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of California towns and more vibrant than 100% of California towns.

    6,808 people · Contra Costa County · median home $733,300 · income $121,313 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

    Full Contra Costa Centre, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13University of California-Santa Barbara, California

    Hipper than 96% 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 more of a college town 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 →

14. 12East Richmond Heights, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    East Richmond Heights is a community of 3,460 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of California towns and more walkable than 90% of California towns.

    3,460 people · Contra Costa County · median home $915,400 · income $134,632 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full East Richmond Heights, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Bishop, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    Bishop is a city of 3,819 people in Inyo County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of California towns and better for first-time buyers than 91% of California towns.

    3,819 people · Inyo County · median home $386,400 · income $83,686 · Jan low 24°F

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

16. 10Pleasure Point, California

    Hipper 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 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 →

17. 9Fairfax, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    Fairfax is a town of 7,605 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 99% of California towns and better for young professionals than 95% of California towns.

    7,605 people · Marin County · median home $1,163,600 · income $141,653 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

18. 8Capitola, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    Capitola is a city of 9,938 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns and more vibrant than 98% 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 →

19. 7Burbank, California

    Hipper than 98% of California towns

    Burbank is a community of 4,940 people in Santa Clara County, California. It also ranks more walkable than 99% of California towns and more vibrant than 99% of California towns.

    4,940 people · Santa Clara County · median home $1,104,600 · income $134,518 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

20. 6Kensington, California

    Hipper than 98% of California towns

    Kensington is a community of 5,428 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of California towns and better for cycling than 98% of California towns.

    5,428 people · Contra Costa County · median home $1,539,000 · income $237,130 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

21. 5University of California-Davis, California

    Hipper 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 →

22. 4Nevada City, California

    Hipper than 99% of California towns

    Nevada City is a city of 3,152 people in Nevada County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 94% 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 →

23. 3Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

    Hipper than 99% 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 better for a vacation home 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 →

24. 2Twin Lakes, California

    Hipper than 99% of California towns

    Twin Lakes is a community of 4,944 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of California towns and better for cycling than 99% of California towns.

    4,944 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $959,100 · income $90,087 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

25. 1Sausalito, California

    Hipper than 100% of California towns

    

    Sausalito is a city of 7,269 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of California towns and more walkable than 96% of California towns.

    7,269 people · Marin County · median home $1,894,600 · income $182,357 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

    Full Sausalito, 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 Hippest Small Towns in America
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New Jersey