The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in California

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

1. 25Avalon, California

   Better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns

   Avalon is a city of 3,460 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 100% of California towns and better for cycling than 100% of California towns.

   3,460 people · Los Angeles County · median home $936,000 · income $105,139 · Jan low 50°F

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

2. 24Desert Palms, California

   Better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns

   Desert Palms is a community of 6,686 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of California towns and quieter than 89% of California towns.

   6,686 people · Riverside County · median home $567,400 · income $79,792 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

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

3. 23Channel Islands Beach, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   Channel Islands Beach is a community of 2,870 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 97% of California towns and better for young professionals than 89% of California towns.

   2,870 people · Ventura County · median home $1,111,200 · income $107,380 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

   Full Channel Islands Beach, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Lake Nacimiento, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   Lake Nacimiento is a community of 2,956 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks quieter than 92% of California towns and better for young professionals than 80% of California towns.

   2,956 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $504,200 · income $91,615 · Jan low 34°F · 0 in snow

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

5. 21Mount Shasta, California

   Better for a vacation home 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 hipper 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. 20Seacliff, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% 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 more of a college town than 97% 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 →

7. 19Guerneville, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   Guerneville is a community of 4,552 people in Sonoma County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 95% of California towns and hipper than 89% of California towns.

   4,552 people · Sonoma County · median home $600,600 · income $81,281 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

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

8. 18Lake Wildwood, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   Lake Wildwood is a community of 5,158 people in Nevada County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 95% of California towns and better for families than 83% of California towns.

   5,158 people · Nevada County · median home $551,800 · income $85,771 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

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

9. 17Borrego Springs, California

   Better for a vacation home than 95% 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 first-time buyers than 98% 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 →

10. 16Kings Beach, California

    Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

    Kings Beach is a community of 3,563 people in Placer County, California. The median home is worth $772,100 (typical California town: $596,900).

    3,563 people · Placer County · median home $772,100 · income $68,153 · Jan low 13°F · 179 in snow

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

11. 15Indian Wells, California

    Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

    Indian Wells is a city of 4,757 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks quieter than 81% of California towns and better for retirees than 78% of California towns.

    4,757 people · Riverside County · median home $1,078,200 · income $162,990 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

    Full Indian Wells, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Running Springs, California

    Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

    Running Springs is a community of 5,268 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% 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 →

13. 13La Selva Beach, California

    Better for a vacation home 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 →

14. 12Arnold, California

    Better for a vacation home than 96% of California towns

    Arnold is a community of 3,288 people in Calaveras County, California. It also ranks quieter than 99% of California towns and better for retirees than 82% of California towns.

    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 →

15. 11Idyllwild-Pine Cove, California

    Better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns

    Idyllwild-Pine Cove is a community of 4,163 people in Riverside County, California. It also ranks hipper than 89% of California towns and quieter than 85% of California towns.

    4,163 people · Riverside County · median home $532,400 · income $73,678 · Jan low 31°F · 31 in snow

    Full Idyllwild-Pine Cove, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Cambria, California

    Better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns

    

    Cambria is a community of 5,678 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 97% of California towns and better for retirees than 95% of California towns.

    5,678 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $930,200 · income $99,147 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

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

17. 9Pismo Beach, California

    Better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns

    Pismo Beach is a city of 8,072 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 93% of California towns and more upscale than 83% of California towns.

    8,072 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $1,021,300 · income $118,072 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

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

18. 8Del Monte Forest, California

    Better for a vacation home than 98% of California towns

    Del Monte Forest is a community of 4,204 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 95% of California towns and more seaside character than 95% of California towns.

    4,204 people · Monterey County · median home $2,000,001 · income $142,763 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full Del Monte Forest, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Bear Valley Springs, California

    Better for a vacation home than 98% of California towns

    Bear Valley Springs is a community of 5,592 people in Kern County, California. It also ranks quieter than 99% of California towns and better for retirees than 94% of California towns.

    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 →

20. 6Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

    Better for a vacation home 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 hipper 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 →

21. 5Wrightwood, California

    Better for a vacation home than 99% 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 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 →

22. 4Cayucos, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

    Cayucos is a community of 2,505 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of California towns and better for retirees than 97% 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 →

23. 3Pepperdine University, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

    Pepperdine University is a community of 2,747 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of California towns and more seaside character than 95% of California towns.

    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 →

24. 2Rancho Santa Fe, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

    Rancho Santa Fe is a community of 3,156 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks better for families than 98% of California towns and more upscale than 95% of California towns.

    3,156 people · San Diego County · median home $2,000,001 · income $175,792 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full Rancho Santa Fe, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Carmel Valley Village, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

    Carmel Valley Village is a community of 4,524 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 98% of California towns and better for families than 93% of California towns.

    4,524 people · Monterey County · median home $1,275,500 · income $156,161 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Carmel Valley Village, 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 Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey