2021 Best Counties to Live in California

Santa Clara County

• County in California
• Rating 4.17 out of 5  140 reviews

Current Resident: Everyone here is so incredibly kind! I cannot say enough good things about this place. The schools are great, the people are great, it is very diverse, and we are generally happy!
Read 140 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 1,927,470 Population

Alameda County

• County in California
• Rating 4.31 out of 5  54 reviews

Current Resident: I have grown up in Alameda and go to school in Oakland. This is my home and I am very grateful to have lived here for the last 18 years. Although it is an extremely expensive place to live, it is filled with a diverse community of people and countless activities for all interests. We are said to be in a "liberal bubble" with most of the residents having progressive viewpoints surrounding governmental policy, diversity, gender equality, etc.
Read 54 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 1,656,754 Population

San Mateo County

• County in California
• Rating 4.4 out of 5  77 reviews

Current Resident: The San Mateo county is very calm and family-friendly. This county has everything you need. The schools are very diverse and very good in terms of education and programs. The housing is quite expensive; though the opportunities are limitless. What I love about San Mateo County is the diversity; you see a lot of different ethnicities, and you can definitely learn about a lot of cultures through the people who live in this County. The weather is extremely nice; it's not too hot and it's not too cold. Everything is near and very accessible so the location is great and the way the cities were planned.
Read 77 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 767,423 Population

Marin County

• County in California
• Rating 4.38 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: I’ve lived a lot of places and when it comes to natural beauty Marin is probably number one. With over 85 percent of its land set aside as ‘open space’ meaning parks and protected wilderness it always will be. The ocean is on one side the bay on the other. San Francisco is just across the most beautiful bridge in the world and wine country just to the north.

Quant towns that look like Rockwell illustrations and a Mediterranean climate round it all out. Marin has quite an interesting history that comes from rock stars, hippies and periods of ‘anything goes lifestyles’ that have thrived here. The population is on the wealthy side but it’s not flashy or snobby like Beverly Hills type of enclaves. That is even frowned upon. The schools are great. The politics are liberal. It doesn’t have a lot of racial or ethnic diversity mainly because building restrictions and land use policies don’t leave much room for a diverse nor affordable housing stock.
Read 29 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 259,943 Population

Orange County

• County in California
• Rating 4.31 out of 5  185 reviews

Current Resident: Orange County is a beautiful city with many things to do throughout the day. Orange County has a few popular amusement parks Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm which are both family-friendly. Orange County also has many great public schools that take education as their first priority. Orange County is also near the middle bottom of Socal which makes it great to travel anywhere going towards Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Fransisco, and San Diego. Orange County is a great place to live at if you have a family or even live alone!
Read 185 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 3,168,044 Population

Contra Costa County

• County in California
• Rating 4.06 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: It a clean area with great neighborhoods. Great environment to be in!Contra Costa is filled with great leaders and try’s its best to make the community a safe place for all! There are multiple sports, arts, and extra curricular programs in the area.
Read 48 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 1,142,251 Population

Santa Cruz County

• County in California
• Rating 4.07 out of 5  114 reviews

Current Resident: I would like to see the rent prices and overall real estate market decrease! The ever-growing cost of rent and living makes 85% of folks struggle to make ends meet. The housing crisis is pushing out people that have been born and raised here and locals are hanging on by a thread just to enjoy the beautiful place they've made home. We also have a horrid homeless crisis where we have been given money to support the homeless folks and the money hasn't been distributed to help with basic services and instead has been put towards taking down their makeshift camps which are their only options to survive due to the lack of room in the shelters that are few and far between. The housing crisis has a heavy hand in the ever growing homeless community because it can make living in Santa Cruz one missed paycheck away from being homeless. I love this city, I was born here and more than anything want to stay living here but it's becoming harder and harder by the day.
Read 114 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 273,962 Population

Sacramento County

• County in California
• Rating 3.8 out of 5  565 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Sacramento County, you have a lot of diversity and options. With its rich history, residents and visitors can visit downtown Sacramento and visit the Capitol or they can take trip to the past and visit Old Sacramento and see the old and rich history of how Sacramento started. Sacramento is a decent place to live at as everything is within reach. Sacramento has great schools and colleges for students and opportunities. unlike lackluster places like Chico, Sacramento has been making its name for itself as we have some notable places and people that live here in Sacramento. It is very diverse and has a very fun nightlife. If residents or visitors want to enjoy some nightlife, I definitely recommend visiting downtown Doco for some late night ice rink skating or taking a quick bite at the famous Yard House, and then finally do some shopping at the Macy's outlet to finish the day off. I definitely recommend visiting and living in Sacramento, who knows you might end up staying!
Read 565 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 1,524,553 Population

San Diego County

• County in California
• Rating 4.48 out of 5  1,170 reviews

Current Resident: San Diego is beautiful in so many ways!
The people, the food, the sceneries from the buildings of downtown to the natural landscapes from the beaches and trails. As much this is scratching the surface of how precious San Diego is, I would love to add on what needs to improve with the county starting with social climate and police brutality, tension has been rising with people being rude from both workers and the public. There also needs to be more resources for low-income communities for financial assistance and abolishing of rising rent. Houseless people deserve assistance especially on shelter there should be more buildings around Downtown San Diego that facilitate on taking care of the homeless population.
Read 1,170 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 3,316,073 Population

Placer County

• County in California
• Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Pleasant rural living. Safe. Scenic. Ideal weather. Clean mountain air and water. Best retirement place in California for outdoor lovers. Mid-county foothills offer both rural privacy and easy accessibility via Interstate 80. Senior friendly supports, services, and activities abound. Better public transportation would be nice.
Read 9 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 385,512 Population

Yolo County

• County in California
• Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Yolo county itself is amazing and is a very convenient spot for college students. It is close by to major colleges, like UC Davis and Sac State, and has little commute time. The cost of living is less than other counties and it is a growing county. Anybody can have access to resources if they need any. Furthermore, the residents are friendly and they county itself is very clean. I love this county.
Read 3 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• 217,352 Population

Santa Barbara County

• County in California
• Rating 4.59 out of 5  126 reviews

Current Resident: I am 17 years old, and have lived in Goleta and Santa Barbara my whole life. The weather is phenomenal, and commuting is not bad in the slightest compared to larger cities, and everyone is fairly nice! The drawbacks are serious though. It is not diverse, mostly made up of wealthy and middle class white people. There is a very low Africa American population, and there is unintentional segregation. There are clearly more cramped areas that are filled with people of color, and other areas that are more spread out and have no people of color. I believe this is part of the ongoing problem of gentrification in Santa Barbara. It is a serious problem, and continues to afflict the Santa Barbara County.
Read 126 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 444,829 Population

San Luis Obispo County

• County in California
• Rating 4.33 out of 5  63 reviews

Current Resident: San Luis Obispo County is one of the most beautiful places in this country. It boasts of amazing weather, beautiful beaches, low crime and is home to California Polytechnic State University. Living in this piece of paradise does come with a price tag. Taxes are high, real estate is expensive and job opportunities are not as prevalent as big cities. Overall, It doesn’t get better than living in San Luis Obispo county!
Read 63 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• 282,165 Population

Napa County

• County in California
• Rating 4.15 out of 5  34 reviews

Current Resident: Napa is a great small town, but with a lot of growth over my life. When I was a child it was very small and not a whole lot to enjoy, but as an adult I've seen the county evolve into a major attraction with lots of business. Wine, food, shopping, nature- it's got it all!
Read 34 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• 139,623 Population

Sonoma County

• County in California
• Rating 3.9 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: It is absolutely beautiful and every part of Sonoma County has something different to offer. There is the beach, the mountains, wine tasting, and lots of hiking. It is a very expensive county though!
Read 48 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• 499,772 Population

Los Angeles County

• County in California
• Rating 4.07 out of 5  1,058 reviews

Current Resident: Thso much to do!...Museums, Attractions, Theaters, Restaurants, Beaches, Sports....Arts!...So Many Night Clubs froI am a Injured Worker, who needs to complete my BSN for eligibility for Management Positions and meet the new 80/20 requirements. I am a Injured Worker, who needs to complete my BSN for eligibility for Management Positions and meet the new 80/20 requirements. I have sacrificed my education to raise my children in which one was special needs and fostering my grandchildren.I have sacrificed my education to raise my children in which one was special needs and fostering my grandchildren.m Hollywood to Long beach, And Santa Monica to Riverside county! In our County, You can find some beautiful home, condos, and townhomes with amenities! There has been a surge in Healthy Living Choices. There are multiple Parks and Recreational centers that offer sports and extracurricular activities for families. Los Angeles County has
Read 1,058 Reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• 10,081,570 Population

Ventura County

• County in California
• Rating 4.24 out of 5  62 reviews

Current Resident: I love how close this county is to the beach. No matter where you live it is a short/semi-short drive to the beach. The city Ventura has a very homey feel, and is kind of like a beach town out of the movies. Downtown is so fun, and is great at night because of the lights, restaurants and you can see the sunset. Ojai, is a great city to escape your crazy life. They have lots of great little restaurants, such as bocallis, and also they have lots of beautiful wineries. Their downtown is very fancy, and really beautiful with lots of neat stores and boutiques. Oxnard has established a great outdoor mall, called the Collection where people can shop, eat, paint, bowl, and watch movies. It's somewhat new and all the buildings and the overall area looks very nice and inviting. I was born and raised in Ventura, and I am so happy. I have loved growing up here because I can always go to the beach, go shopping, and my family especially loves to go camping at the different spots along the coast!
Read 62 Reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• 847,263 Population

El Dorado County

• County in California
• Rating 3.78 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up here, then, after living in many other places, I found that there really is no place like home. Rural and gorgeous, yet with Highway 50, it's easy to get to Sacramento or Tahoe. If you love the country life, this is the best. Our schools are top notch, especially Ponderosa, Union Mine and Oakridge. We love our sheriff and police and support them. If you are looking for an exciting place with lots of night life, stay in the city. If you love things natural and not picky about the condition of the roads, this is the place to be.
Read 9 Reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 188,563 Population

Solano County

• County in California
• Rating 3.18 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: Solano county is a great place to live. It’s is very diverse and has very kind and social people. There’s also annually events such as fair and contest, which are found for all ages. It’s a great location to be because it close to Sacramento and the Bay Area. It’s also not to far away from Tahoe or Reno. The weather is perfect in fall and spring, hot in the summer and low 60’s to 50’s in the winter. Solano county also has a lot of great schools with awesome sports programs. A large amount of solan teams are know to be annually playoff contenders.
Read 22 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• 441,829 Population

Butte County

• County in California
• Rating 3.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: I live in a pretty small community, but it's great. The people are super friendly and welcoming, the area is beautiful, and it's close to Chico, so there's plenty of good restaurants and a movie theatre close by. I would absolutely choose to live here if I had to choose over again!
Read 6 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• 225,817 Population

Inyo County

• County in California
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• 17,977 Population

Nevada County

• County in California
• Rating 4.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Nevada County is one of the most beautiful areas I've ever visited, the trees, lakes, people community feeling. You can walk down the street and strike up a conversation with anyone at anytime 😊. People out here are so friendly and welcoming we all feel like one big family, which in our world today i feel isn't as easy to come by anymore. If i was to say if I wanted anything to change here... it would be more activities for younger kids and adults to participate in together park events, communiry parties or gatherings.
Read 4 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A

• 99,244 Population

Sutter County

• County in California
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade B minus

• grade A minus

• 96,109 Population

Fresno County

• County in California
• Rating 3.59 out of 5  190 reviews

Current Resident: Fresno California is a city that has become a true metroplex over the last ten years and includes all of Fresno & Madera Counties and cities including Clovis, Madera, the new Riverstone, the new hill city Friant Ranch(to name a few). The Fresno area has a thriving economy, warm and accepting population, and a culture that places community with a focus on individuality at its core. Sought out by technology, scientific, and business for it’s highly educated residents, Fresno also possesses the States flagship University (CalState Fresno) which adds to the cities energy. The city is a wonderful combination of Urban, urban/suburban, Suburban, and rural areas that mesh well with each other and allow Fresnoians to live and experience many lifestyles within a short drive. Cost of living is expensive but so are salaries so most people live comfortably. The nicest areas have to be North Fresno with all the mansions. Fresno is a great place and the downtown keeps on remodeling!
Read 190 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• 984,521 Population

Mono County

• County in California

• grade B minus

• grade B

• 14,310 Population