Beyond the well-known charms of Los Angeles and San Francisco lies an entire state full of opportunities. It doesn’t matter if you wish to move to the northern or southern regions because deciding where to live in California isn’t easy, but it can be fun. Read our list of some unexpected places to call home in Cali.
The great part of moving to Cali is that you can do it at the cheapest time of the year. Winters are mild there, so you don’t have to worry about seasonal depression. Some ideal weather conditions in the country are across CA and its many towns, so it’s no wonder you’re considering moving there.
Moving in winter is smart, and that’s likely the best time of the year to move to Cali. Any long-distance moving company would help you make the transition year-round.
It might be good to start the discussion by answering the question, “where should I not live in California.” If you’re not into relocating to a big city, avoid the biggest ones like LA and San Francisco. Maybe you have a tight budget and can’t afford to spend too much; in that case, it may be wise to avoid San Diego.
The benefits of relocating to Cali are numerous. Besides the weather we’ve mentioned, there are some other cool things about it. For example:
Sacramento isn’t officially on the list because it’s the state capital and, while there’s some peace and quiet, it’s still the quintessential capital city. It is the administrative and one of the economic centers of Cali, which could make it fussier than someone looking for peace would like.
However, it is one of the best places in California because, despite being the administrative center, it’s smaller and more affordable than other metropolitan areas (for example, San Diego is unexpectedly costly). If you are willing to sacrifice a peaceful life and experience the fuss of a capital, check out some roommate websites in Sacramento to help you get by if you’re moving alone.
Palo Alto is considered one of the best places to live in California. Not only is it the safest place to live in California, which is essential if you’re relocating solo, but it has the highest-rated schools and high education levels if you’re moving with kids. It’s the seat of Stanford University.
It’s also otherwise known as the birthplace of Silicon Valley, which means it’s an excellent area to relocate a business or work on getting a job in a new town. This is a quiet and peaceful town, with equal entertainment opportunities for those looking to go crazy and others who wish to have a chill night.
Still, if you’re looking for peace, job opportunities, and high-quality education, don’t skip researching Palo Alto.
The one thing that we all expect out of Cali’s cost of living is for them to be high. That’s why Palo Alto’s real estate prices are no surprise. This is the most expensive town on the list. Your moving budget needs some adjustment, but relocating with long-distance moving services won’t be the biggest part of it.
The biggest part of your budget will go on the median home and rent prices, with the former averaging at $2 million and the latter at $2,500. The population is around 65,000, and median household income puts Palo Alto on the map of the highest income rates in the country with $158,000.
San Jose is another town important for the rise of Silicon Valley, but it’s located in its heart. There aren’t many differences in job opportunities between here and Palo Alto, but everything else is worth comparing.
The town was voted the second happiest town in the country, which is a good reason it’s one of the best places to live in northern California and a cure for relocation depression. It has distinct areas, so you can relocate to the suburbs and not bump into any techies or businesspeople on your commute.
It’s a quiet town with some pretty quirky attractions, like the Winchester Mystery House, a 120-acre flea market, and a life-sized Monopoly board. Besides that, it’s close to the Sierra Nevada and the wine country. If you like outdoor activities and walks in the park, relocating with pets to SJ will be a good choice.
This town might just be the answer to the question, “What is the nicest city in California?” Compared to Palo Alto’s average house prices and rents, it’s easy to understand why Josefinos (the nickname for the town’s residents) are among the happiest in the country.
The population is approximately 1,000,000 people, which makes SJ the third most populated city statewide. Expect to cash out around $850,000 for home prices and $2,100 on rents. The average household income in SJ comes at about $100,000, which makes it a bit more accessible than Palo Alto.
The video below shows a local man traveling through SJ’s neighborhoods, talking to the residents and locals who influence the town’s culture. It’s a nice guide through the town’s diversity that could convince you to give it a chance.
Bakersfield is the coolest town for first-time movers asking about where to live in California – affordable rents and a tight-knit community are what makes this town one of the most impressive towns in southern Cali.
Aside from providing the cheapest way to move to CA, the city doesn’t feel like you’re on the West Coast. It’s an old oil town that still has oil rigs and country music bars scattered around. The great thing about Bakersfield is that it went from being strictly industrial to having some of the longest bike paths, approximately sixty parks, local produce, and many cultural and artistic establishments.
Bakersfield is excellent for anyone looking to move on a budget. It’s about a two-hour drive away from Los Angeles, and Californians are known for not seeing a problem with driving for hours just to get some entertainment. To be a true Californian, you can ship your car with the help of long-distance movers; at this point, it should be one of your moving essentials.
The town’s population is around 400,000. Average home prices are $240,000 and rents $1,100. It’s generally more affordable than other towns on the list, but you should look at the neighborhood safety statistics to see which neighborhood is the most convenient to settle in. On average, residents of Bakersfield earn $63,000 and pay significantly less for groceries and produce than in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Oxnard may be the answer to the prayers of those who wish to spend their days eating healthy, soaking up the sun, and getting sand in their toes all year. This town of around 200,000 residents is continuously mentioned as one of the best places to live in southern California, and we couldn’t agree more.
The reasons to move to Oxnard are numerous – it’s a coastal town with seven miles worth of white-sand beach and provides water-based entertainment at every step. You can surf, swim, and whale watch at any part of the beach since it’s not heavily populated. You can do it alone, or with someone as you try to make new friends.
You can eat the most delicious strawberries of your life at the strawberry festival held here. And, every day is a new chance to learn more about the town’s heritage as you walk through Oxnard’s Heritage Square.
Oxnard and Bakersfield are both the answers to where is the cheapest place to live in California. However, Oxnard can be slightly more expensive, depending on the part of town. Average house prices are $450,000, while rents are $1,500. The primary industries are agriculture and forestry, from which the locals can make an impressive $72,000 on average.
Santa Rosa is the last but not least of the best cities to live in California. This charming town of 176,000 residents is the epicenter of the Californian wine country. If you only ever desire to spend your life at wine tastings, eating farm-to-table ingredients, and basking in the sun as it rolls down the golden hills just at the edge of town, we see no issue with that.
Moving cross country to Santa Rosa might mean relocating to a smaller home, but you won’t have any problems with telling your friends you’re moving to greener pastures. Everyone’s welcome here, from young adults and students to families and retirees. There are job opportunities in the wine, agricultural, and high-tech industries, the hospitals are top-notch, and there’s a chance to bike everywhere.
The areas around Santa Rosa bring the highest number of jobs to their residents. It’s surrounded by farms, hopyards, vineyards, and orchards that aren’t just the primary financial source for the locals but also the most utilized sources of nourishment. The average household income is $75,000.
Cross-country movers will gladly help you move here, as long as you’re ready for the real estate cost. Median house prices are $500,000, and you can expect to get a rental for around $1,600. Overall, the town is way cheaper than some on this list, but CA tends to be like that, and these living costs shouldn’t surprise you too much. If you do the where should I move quiz and get Santa Rosa, don’t think twice.
It’s not enough to say that cross-country moving services can help you cope with relocation stress. Planning relocation months ahead or simply doing a last-minute move doesn’t change the fact that a cross-country moving company knows how to handle any relocation. It’s better to get someone who can do professional packing services so you can take a break and adjust to moving.
Choosing movers or not, you’re moving to CA and hopefully to a town that will reflect your standards and wishes. We know you need some peace and quiet, so we’re confident one of the towns on this list will be the right choice. All you have to do is take the leap of faith and pick one.
