The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California

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 Bear Valley Springs, CA.

1. 25Palo Cedro, California

   Retirement: 78th percentile · Quiet: 75th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 84th percentile

   Palo Cedro is a community of 2,931 people in Shasta County, California. Homes have a median value of $551,600 against household income of $120,152; January lows average 38°F.

   2,931 people · Shasta County · median home $551,600 · income $120,152 · Jan low 38°F · 1 in snow

   Full Palo Cedro, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Phoenix Lake, California

   Retirement: 70th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

   Phoenix Lake is a community of 4,264 people in Tuolumne County, California. Homes have a median value of $488,500 against household income of $103,125; January lows average 33°F.

   4,264 people · Tuolumne County · median home $488,500 · income $103,125 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

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

3. 23Sage, California

   Retirement: 74th percentile · Quiet: 82nd 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 →

4. 22Desert Edge, California

   Retirement: 57th percentile · Quiet: 82nd 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 →

5. 21Shingle Springs, California

   Retirement: 88th percentile · Quiet: 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 67th percentile

   Shingle Springs is a community of 4,660 people in El Dorado County, California. Homes have a median value of $744,900 against household income of $135,530; January lows average 38°F.

   4,660 people · El Dorado County · median home $744,900 · income $135,530 · Jan low 38°F · 8 in snow

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

6. 20Gold River, California

   Retirement: 88th percentile · Quiet: 62nd 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 →

7. 19Wilton, California

   Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 80th 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 →

8. 18Coarsegold, California

   Retirement: 67th percentile · Quiet: 88th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 87th percentile

   Coarsegold is a community of 4,144 people in Madera County, California. Homes have a median value of $350,000 against household income of $80,861; January lows average 32°F.

   4,144 people · Madera County · median home $350,000 · income $80,861 · Jan low 32°F · 3 in snow

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

9. 17Cottonwood, California

   Retirement: 64th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 93rd percentile

   Cottonwood is a community of 6,268 people in Shasta County, California. Homes have a median value of $363,000 against household income of $95,577; January lows average 38°F.

   6,268 people · Shasta County · median home $363,000 · income $95,577 · Jan low 38°F · 3 in snow

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

10. 16Buckhorn, California

    Retirement: 59th percentile · Quiet: 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    Buckhorn is a community of 2,597 people in Amador County, California. Homes have a median value of $360,800 against household income of $90,045; January lows average 39°F.

    2,597 people · Amador County · median home $360,800 · income $90,045 · Jan low 39°F · 4 in snow

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

11. 15Weaverville, California

    Retirement: 79th percentile · Quiet: 92nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 73rd percentile

    Weaverville is a community of 3,667 people in Trinity County, California. Homes have a median value of $339,300 against household income of $65,787; January lows average 31°F.

    3,667 people · Trinity County · median home $339,300 · income $65,787 · Jan low 31°F · 9 in snow

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

12. 14Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek, California

    Retirement: 64th percentile · Quiet: 83rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 99th percentile

    Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek is a community of 2,780 people in Inyo County, California. Homes have a median value of $196,600 against household income of $75,745; January lows average 24°F.

    2,780 people · Inyo County · median home $196,600 · income $75,745 · Jan low 24°F

    Full Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13North Fork, California

    Retirement: 84th percentile · Quiet: 93rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 71st percentile

    North Fork is a community of 3,250 people in Madera County, California. Homes have a median value of $382,600 against household income of $71,619; January lows average 32°F.

    3,250 people · Madera County · median home $382,600 · income $71,619 · Jan low 32°F · 2 in snow

    Full North Fork, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Alturas, California

    Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 68th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 98th percentile

    Alturas is a city of 2,715 people in Modoc County, California. Homes have a median value of $170,100 against household income of $59,896; January lows average 21°F.

    2,715 people · Modoc County · median home $170,100 · income $59,896 · Jan low 21°F · 51 in snow

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

15. 11Arnold, California

    Retirement: 82nd percentile · Quiet: 99th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 71st percentile

    Arnold is a community of 3,288 people in Calaveras County, California. Homes have a median value of $485,700 against household income of $92,467; January lows average 30°F.

    3,288 people · Calaveras County · median home $485,700 · income $92,467 · Jan low 30°F · 105 in snow

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

16. 10Pine Mountain Lake, California

    Retirement: 90th percentile · Quiet: 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

    Pine Mountain Lake is a community of 2,636 people in Tuolumne County, California. Homes have a median value of $426,500 against household income of $79,387; January lows average 31°F.

    2,636 people · Tuolumne County · median home $426,500 · income $79,387 · Jan low 31°F · 4 in snow

    Full Pine Mountain Lake, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Auberry, California

    Retirement: 89th percentile · Quiet: 87th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 80th percentile

    Auberry is a community of 3,238 people in Fresno County, California. Homes have a median value of $375,300 against household income of $78,512; January lows average 37°F.

    3,238 people · Fresno County · median home $375,300 · income $78,512 · Jan low 37°F · 2 in snow

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

18. 8Anza, California

    Retirement: 82nd percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 90th percentile

    

    Anza is a community of 3,075 people in Riverside County, California. Homes have a median value of $346,600 against household income of $83,558; January lows average 31°F.

    3,075 people · Riverside County · median home $346,600 · income $83,558 · Jan low 31°F · 0 in snow

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

19. 7Rancho Murieta, California

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Quiet: 87th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 74th percentile

    Rancho Murieta is a community of 5,903 people in Sacramento County, California. Homes have a median value of $715,700 against household income of $140,061; January lows average 39°F.

    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 →

20. 6Stallion Springs, California

    Retirement: 85th percentile · Quiet: 98th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 76th percentile

    Stallion Springs is a community of 3,139 people in Kern County, California. Homes have a median value of $432,500 against household income of $87,321; January lows average 32°F.

    3,139 people · Kern County · median home $432,500 · income $87,321 · Jan low 32°F · 0 in snow

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

21. 5Happy Valley, California

    Retirement: 72nd percentile · Quiet: 96th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 94th percentile

    Happy Valley is a community of 4,949 people in Shasta County, California. Homes have a median value of $334,100 against household income of $92,222; January lows average 38°F.

    4,949 people · Shasta County · median home $334,100 · income $92,222 · Jan low 38°F · 3 in snow

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

22. 4Brooktrails, California

    Retirement: 87th percentile · Quiet: 81st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    Brooktrails is a community of 3,632 people in Mendocino County, California. Homes have a median value of $371,700 against household income of $116,056; January lows average 33°F.

    3,632 people · Mendocino County · median home $371,700 · income $116,056 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

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

23. 3Auburn Lake Trails, California

    Retirement: 86th percentile · Quiet: 95th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 89th percentile

    Auburn Lake Trails is a community of 3,388 people in El Dorado County, California. Homes have a median value of $560,300 against household income of $134,007; January lows average 38°F.

    3,388 people · El Dorado County · median home $560,300 · income $134,007 · Jan low 38°F · 4 in snow

    Full Auburn Lake Trails, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Borrego Springs, California

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Quiet: 98th 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 →

25. 1Bear Valley Springs, California

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Quiet: 99th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 90th percentile

    Bear Valley Springs is a community of 5,592 people in Kern County, California. Homes have a median value of $496,200 against household income of $120,481; January lows average 32°F.

    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 →

Price vs ranking

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Same ranking, other places

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