The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in California

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

1. 25Del Mar, California

   Better for young professionals than 93% of California towns

   Del Mar is a city of 3,954 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of California towns and more seaside character than 93% of California towns.

   3,954 people · San Diego County · median home $2,000,001 · income $199,152 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

   Full Del Mar, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Mammoth Lakes, California

   Better for young professionals than 93% of California towns

   Mammoth Lakes is a town of 7,191 people in Mono County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of California towns and better transit than 86% of California towns.

   7,191 people · Mono County · median home $866,700 · income $98,056 · Jan low 17°F · 70 in snow

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

3. 23Tiburon, California

   Better for young professionals than 93% of California towns

   

   Tiburon is a town of 9,146 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of California towns and more seaside character than 97% of California towns.

   9,146 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $232,969 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

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

4. 22Sonoma State University, California

   Better for young professionals 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 hipper 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. 21Ladera Heights, California

   Better for young professionals than 94% of California towns

   Ladera Heights is a community of 6,654 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of California towns and hipper than 91% of California towns.

   6,654 people · Los Angeles County · median home $1,661,600 · income $167,065 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

   Full Ladera Heights, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Saranap, California

   Better for young professionals than 95% of California towns

   Saranap is a community of 5,830 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of California towns and hipper than 89% of California towns.

   5,830 people · Contra Costa County · median home $1,453,300 · income $157,347 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

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

7. 19Fairfax, California

   Better for young professionals than 95% 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 hipper than 97% 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 →

8. 18Fort Irwin, California

   Better for young professionals than 95% of California towns

   Fort Irwin is a community of 8,096 people in San Bernardino County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 95% of California towns and more of a college town than 82% of California towns.

   8,096 people · San Bernardino County · median home — · income $76,107 · Jan low 36°F

   Full Fort Irwin, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Angwin, California

   Better for young professionals than 96% of California towns

   Angwin is a community of 2,633 people in Napa County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of California towns and better for cycling than 96% of California towns.

   2,633 people · Napa County · median home $708,100 · income $117,500 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

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

10. 16Santa Venetia, California

    Better for young professionals than 96% of California towns

    Santa Venetia is a community of 4,289 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 96% of California towns and better for retirees than 93% of California towns.

    4,289 people · Marin County · median home $1,006,300 · income $126,833 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full Santa Venetia, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Montecito, California

    Better for young professionals than 96% 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 more upscale than 95% 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 →

12. 14Capitola, California

    Better for young professionals than 96% 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 →

13. 13Bonny Doon, California

    Better for young professionals than 97% of California towns

    Bonny Doon is a community of 2,868 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 95% of California towns and better for retirees than 94% of California towns.

    2,868 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,201,900 · income $144,813 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

    Full Bonny Doon, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Marin City, California

    Better for young professionals than 97% of California towns

    Marin City is a community of 2,993 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks hipper than 92% of California towns and better transit than 83% of California towns.

    2,993 people · Marin County · median home $1,142,700 · income $68,846 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

    Full Marin City, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Burbank, California

    Better for young professionals than 97% 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 →

16. 10Strawberry, California

    Better for young professionals than 97% of California towns

    Strawberry is a community of 5,447 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 97% of California towns and more of a college town than 96% of California towns.

    5,447 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $157,661 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

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

17. 9La Selva Beach, California

    Better for young professionals than 98% of California towns

    La Selva Beach is a community of 2,531 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 97% of California towns and better for retirees than 96% 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 →

18. 8Vandenberg AFB, California

    Better for young professionals than 98% of California towns

    Vandenberg AFB is a community of 3,559 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks more seaside character than 95% of California towns and better for cycling than 92% of California towns.

    3,559 people · Santa Barbara County · median home — · income $84,167 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

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

19. 7Atherton, California

    Better for young professionals than 98% of California towns

    Atherton is a town of 7,188 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of California towns and better transit than 99% of California towns.

    7,188 people · San Mateo County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

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

20. 6Sausalito, California

    Better for young professionals than 98% of California towns

    

    Sausalito is a city of 7,269 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks hipper than 100% 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 →

21. 5University of California-Davis, California

    Better for young professionals 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 hipper 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. 4Twin Lakes, California

    Better for young professionals than 99% of California towns

    Twin Lakes is a community of 4,944 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks hipper 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 →

23. 3Pepperdine University, California

    Better for young professionals than 100% of California towns

    Pepperdine University is a community of 2,747 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home 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. 2Contra Costa Centre, California

    Better for young professionals than 100% of California towns

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

25. 1University of California-Santa Barbara, California

    Better for young professionals than 100% of California towns

    University of California-Santa Barbara is a community of 9,710 people in Santa Barbara County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of California towns and better for cycling 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 →

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 Small Towns for Young Professionals in America
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• The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in New Jersey