9 Best Places to Live in California, According to Real Estate Experts

California’s scenery, climate, and natural resources have beckoned since well before the Gold Rush of the mid-1850s. Today, residents are attracted by career opportunities in the state’s major cities, the diverse population, the variety of lifestyles, and the moderate weather in most parts of the state.

More than 840 miles of Pacific coastline entice ocean lovers, and from north to south, the scenery changes from towering redwoods and rugged cliffs to Southern California’s white-sand beaches. If you’re looking for mountain living, California features more ranges than any state except Alaska. From small towns to major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, and from Central Valley farms to wine regions throughout the state, California offers just about every style of living.

California’s many advantages come with a price. The state’s cost of living is the third-highest in the nation (after Hawaii and Massachusetts), with the second-highest transportation costs, due in part to high gas prices. Housing costs are twice the national average, especially in major metropolitan areas. California has a state income tax with the highest rate of 13.3 percent, and capital gains are taxed as regular income. On the plus side for retirees, Social Security benefits are not taxed.

California’s residents appreciate all the state has to offer, even with the costs. When my husband and I arrived in the late 1970s, we quickly fell in love with the Southern California beach cities, and we have stayed, despite my having to decline several job opportunities in other states—with no regrets. Of course, the statewide figures above are averages, and costs and lifestyles vary widely by city and area of the state. There’s a town and community to fit most people’s needs, as many of California’s 39,663,800 residents will tell you.