The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 358 towns of 500–10,000 people in California, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Borrego Springs, CA.

1. 10Cutten, California

   Retirement: 74th percentile · January average low (°F): 57th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 80th percentile

   Cutten is a community of 3,223 people in Humboldt County, California. Homes have a median value of $471,300 against household income of $97,225; January lows average 41°F.

   3,223 people · Humboldt County · median home $471,300 · income $97,225 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

2. 9Wilton, California

   Retirement: 83rd percentile · January average low (°F): 58th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

   Wilton is a community of 5,958 people in Sacramento County, California. Homes have a median value of $926,200 against household income of $189,537; January lows average 41°F.

   5,958 people · Sacramento County · median home $926,200 · income $189,537 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

3. 8Vandenberg Village, California

   Retirement: 84th percentile · January average low (°F): 75th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 63rd percentile

   Vandenberg Village is a community of 7,308 people in Santa Barbara County, California. Homes have a median value of $637,100 against household income of $110,904; January lows average 43°F.

   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 →

4. 7Mission Hills, California

   Retirement: 63rd percentile · January average low (°F): 75th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 86th percentile

   Mission Hills is a community of 3,571 people in Santa Barbara County, California. Homes have a median value of $492,900 against household income of $111,974; January lows average 43°F.

   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 →

5. 6Needles, California

   Retirement: 55th percentile · January average low (°F): 86th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 90th percentile

   Needles is a city of 4,931 people in San Bernardino County, California. Homes have a median value of $157,200 against household income of $38,243; January lows average 46°F.

   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 →

6. 5Sage, California

   Retirement: 74th percentile · January average low (°F): 79th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

   Sage is a community of 3,370 people in Riverside County, California. Homes have a median value of $569,300 against household income of $119,938; January lows average 44°F.

   3,370 people · Riverside County · median home $569,300 · income $119,938 · Jan low 44°F · 5 in snow

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

7. 4Gold River, California

   Retirement: 88th percentile · January average low (°F): 58th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 90th percentile

   Gold River is a community of 7,844 people in Sacramento County, California. Homes have a median value of $724,400 against household income of $175,120; January lows average 41°F.

   7,844 people · Sacramento County · median home $724,400 · income $175,120 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

   Full Gold River, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 3Desert Edge, California

   Retirement: 57th percentile · January average low (°F): 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 100th percentile

   Desert Edge is a community of 4,180 people in Riverside County, California. Homes have a median value of $76,300 against household income of $37,429; January lows average 48°F.

   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 →

9. 2Pepperdine University, California

   Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 100th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

   Pepperdine University is a community of 2,747 people in Los Angeles County, California. Homes have a median value of $979,700 against household income of $199,432; January lows average 50°F.

   2,747 people · Los Angeles County · median home $979,700 · income $199,432 · Jan low 50°F · 0 in snow

   Full Pepperdine University, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 1Borrego Springs, California

    Retirement: 96th percentile · January average low (°F): 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

    

    Borrego Springs is a community of 3,073 people in San Diego County, California. Homes have a median value of $402,700 against household income of $86,078; January lows average 46°F.

    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 →

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 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in California

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