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2020 Best Places to Buy a House in CaliforniaAbout this List

Explore the best places to buy a house based on home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs, and real estate trends. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Area type classifications are based on populations and proximity to major city centers.

City

City Neighborhood

Suburbs

Towns

Public Schools Grade

Based on data including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, as well as reviews from students and parents.

A

B

C

D

Based on cost of living factors for an area including housing costs, tax rates, and cost of essentials like food and fuel.

$

$$

$$$

$$$$

Who Lives Here

Families

Young Professionals

Retirees

Walkability

Don't Care

Care

Care A Lot

Crime & Safety Grade

Calculated based on crime rates for murder, assault, rape, burglary, and other crime statistics, as well as reviews from residents.

A

B

C

D

Homes In The Area

Single Family Homes

Large Apt. Buildings

Small Apt. Buildings

Townhomes

Homeownership

Most Own

Balanced

Most Rent

Based on 2012 and 2016 presidential election results compared to the national average.

Very Conservative

Conservative

Balanced

Liberal

Very Liberal

Things to do

Bars

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

Restaurants

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

Coffee Shops

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

Parks

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

1 – 25 of 2,253

Best to Buy a House

Best Places to Live
Best for Families
Most Diverse

2,253 results

Best Places to Live
Best for Families
Best Public Schools

Most Diverse
Best for Young Professionals
Best for Retirees

Economy

Cost of Living
Best to Buy a House

Health & Outdoors

Healthiest
Outdoor Activities

Empire Ranch
Neighborhood in Folsom, CA
9 reviews
#1 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: Safe, friendly, environment (nicknamed "wholesome Folsom"), and a great family neighborhood. Folsom has been ranked as one of the top family neighborhoods in the region.
Read 9 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A-
Housing
8,671 Population
View Nearby Homes
Lexington Hills/The Parkway
Neighborhood in Folsom, CA
9 reviews
#2 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: This is very safe area, especially near my home.
Read 9 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A-
Housing
5,799 Population
View Nearby Homes
Broadstone
Neighborhood in Folsom, CA
21 reviews
#3 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Quiet, friendly and very safe neighborhood. Excellent schools, trails, parks and and beautiful scenery. Landscaping is impeccable and city services can't be beat.
Read 21 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
B+
Housing
3,421 Population
View Nearby Homes
Ridgecrest
Town in California
72 reviews
#4 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: I moved to Ridgecrest the summer before senior year from San Diego California. I wasn't looking forward to it at first because Ridgecrest appeared to be the total opposite of San Diego. However, I soon learnt that Ridgecrest has every single good quality you would imagine a small town to have. It is a close-knit community that cares for eachother. The recent earthquakes truly tested the towns resilience and really highlighted the people here. The only thing I would change about Ridgecrest is the efficiency of buildings, roads, and other facilities being fixed or built. Roads for example, take much longer than necessary to fix and often cause an inconvenience.
Read 72 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
B+
Housing
28,736 Population
View Nearby Homes
Natomas Creek
Neighborhood in Sacramento, CA
8 reviews
#5 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: It is a good place for families to live. Although this part of town does not have active culture scenes, you're only 10 minutes away from downtown and midtown and also, 5 minutes away from SAC airport. Conveniently located. Housing price is about average but the school district is not great.
Read 8 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
B
Public Schools
B+
Housing
3,292 Population
View Nearby Homes
Natoma Station
Neighborhood in Folsom, CA
1 review
#6 Best Places to Buy a House in California
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
B+
Housing
4,261 Population
View Nearby Homes
Stoneridge Park
Neighborhood in Pleasanton, CA
#7 Best Places to Buy a House in California
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
B+
Housing
1,053 Population
View Nearby Homes
Creekside
Neighborhood in Sacramento, CA
#8 Best Places to Buy a House in California
A-
Overall Niche Grade
B-
Public Schools
B+
Housing
3,227 Population
View Nearby Homes
Camino
Town in California
4 reviews
#9 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Camino is a sleepy, but beautiful, little town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, about midway between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. The area is also know as "Apple Hill" because of the orchards that flourish throughout the town, attracting a steady stream of visitors year-round. The wine scene abounds with unpretentious tasting rooms, and wallet-friendly, but no less enjoyable, picks. There are plenty of recreational opportunities and lots of hiking and biking trails. Not a lot of night life (any at all, really), but being an hour from both Sac & SLT means you'll still be able to catch some great shows and party down past dark.
Read 4 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,799 Population
View Nearby Homes
Los Molinos
Town in California
7 reviews
#10 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Los Molinos to me is a place I can call home, I know that Los Molinos is a safe town. Although Los Molinos is a small town it contains everything, it has its own grocery store and even it's own elementary, middle school and high school. I have lived in Los Molinos nearly my whole life and yes, meeting new people and experiencing somewhere larger is nice.
Read 7 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B-
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,845 Population
View Nearby Homes
Olympus Pointe
Neighborhood in Roseville, CA
13 reviews
#11 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: There are a few very isolated incidents, but this area is very safe and neighborhood watches are common.
Read 13 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,904 Population
View Nearby Homes
Junction West
Neighborhood in Roseville, CA
21 reviews
#12 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: There isn't a lot of crime, police are visible.
Read 21 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
B
Housing
4,880 Population
View Nearby Homes
Seal Beach
Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
46 reviews
#13 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Seal Beach is a small, quaint city on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles, and it is my absolute favorite place to live thus far! The people here are incredibly friendly and inviting, the Main Street restaurants and shops are local and crime is almost non-existent. There are several delicious restaurants to try on Main Street Seal Beach as well as off of Pacific Coast Highway. I always feel so welcomed and happy no matter where I step foot in this city. In addition, there are many families that live here, which makes it a wonderful place to raise kids. I would like to see more community events throughout the year. I think that adding more events in Seal Beach would bring us all closer together. Other than that, this city should be more on the map! It's been life changing living here, and I cannot wait to see how Seal Beach grows!
Read 46 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
B
Housing
24,364 Population
View Nearby Homes
Valley Trails
Neighborhood in Pleasanton, CA
9 reviews
#14 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: Pleasanton is a great community. Not too large so you will get to know your neighbors and people you continually run into, but not too small where you will know everyone's business.
Read 9 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,623 Population
View Nearby Homes
Industrial Area West
Neighborhood in Roseville, CA
2 reviews
#15 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: My siblings are being raised in a community where there are so many opportunities to be active and so many diverse ways to find interests.
Read 2 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,271 Population
View Nearby Homes
Blue Oaks
Neighborhood in Roseville, CA
9 reviews
#16 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Former Resident: I lived here for 4 years. It's a very great and safe neighborhood. Nice area for a family with children, many parks, great schools, and retail shops around.
I am looking forward to an opportunity to come back again!
Read 9 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
B
Housing
5,564 Population
View Nearby Homes
Imperial
Town in California
43 reviews
#17 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: The Imperial Valley is home to a nice little town called Imperial. As a current resident, I would say that it's a nice town to raise a family. The locals are very nice and it is essentially the case that everyone knows everyone. Get-togethers like our MidWinter Fair and our Farmer's market are some of my favorite events they hold and time of the year. It does seem small but sometimes it's nice. My only true complaint is how close-minded people can be. The town is more on the conservative which can be hard to deal with and a big change can effect everyone. The way someone dresses or acts outside the normal standards are usually judged. I sometimes fear being judged but once you get past that, the town is very nice. Most of my family lives in Imperial or nearby which shows how much the town is family-oriented. Overall, if someone was deciding to move here, I would definitely support their decision.
Read 43 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Public Schools
B
Housing
17,175 Population
View Nearby Homes
Valle Vista
Suburb of Riverside, CA
18 reviews
#18 Best Places to Buy a House in California
B
Overall Niche Grade
B
Public Schools
B
Housing
16,879 Population
View Nearby Homes
Mi-Wuk Village
Town in California
#19 Best Places to Buy a House in California
C
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,133 Population
View Nearby Homes
Los Cerros
Neighborhood in Folsom, CA
8 reviews
#20 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Parent: Love Folsom. Great schools, great access to recreational opportunities, close to mountains, not to far to coast.
Read 8 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
B
Housing
13,004 Population
View Nearby Homes
Quail Glen
Neighborhood in Roseville, CA
15 reviews
#21 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: The economy has remained stable here while in other parts of the country, it has gone downhill. In the future, I can see Roseville expanding.
Read 15 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
B
Housing
5,727 Population
View Nearby Homes
Village 7
Neighborhood in Sacramento, CA
8 reviews
#22 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Niche User: There is a lot of farm land near this area. Elkhorn road separates the residence are and the farm land. Which means it can get really windy because the area is open. In the summer, it's a good thing so that when the temperature gets to 90 degrees it wont't be too hot because of the wind. I like this area better than where we used to live before. It was really crowded and noisy because of the elementary school. This area much better. It's more open and streets are wide too. It's peaceful.
Read 8 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
B
Public Schools
B
Housing
1,340 Population
View Nearby Homes
Westlake
Neighborhood in Sacramento, CA
2 reviews
#23 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Westlake is a great area that is safe, quiet, and has very easy access to downtown and the airport. The area is still developing so there will be growth in the future. It is on the edge of Sacramento, with trails directly adjacent.
Read 2 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
B-
Public Schools
B
Housing
3,279 Population
View Nearby Homes
Small Canyon
Neighborhood in San Bernardino, CA
3 reviews
#24 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Nice quiet clean neighborhood. Most everyone appear to take pride in their yards and home. Redlands is close enough to easily do all your shopping. Areas to the West not so nice.
Read 3 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
C+
Public Schools
B
Housing
2,238 Population
View Nearby Homes
Greenacres
Suburb of Bakersfield, CA
134 reviews
#25 Best Places to Buy a House in California
Current Resident: Great place to live and great places to eat too. My favorite is Mountain Mike’s Pizza just around the corner
Read 134 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Public Schools
B
Housing
5,757 Population
View Nearby Homes
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About This List

Explore the best places to buy a house based on home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs, and real estate trends. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.

More From Niche

2020 Best Places to Live
2020 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family
2020 Places with the Best Public Schools
2020 Best Cities to Retire
2020 Most Diverse Places to Live

2020 Best Places for Young Professionals
2020 Best Places to Buy a House
2020 Best Counties to Live
2020 Best ZIP Codes to Live

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Cities

Best Cities in America
Best Cities to Raise a Family
Best Cities to Buy a House
Best Cities for Young Professionals
Best Cities to Retire
Alexandria, VA
Arlington, VA
Boulder, CO
Charlotte, NC
Naperville, IL
Oakland, CA
Plano, TX
Queens, NY
Raleigh, NC
Stamford, CT

Places

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Best Places to Raise a Family
Best Places to Buy a House
Best College Towns
Best Places to Retire
Beaverton, OR
Bozeman, MT
Evanston, IL
Mountain View, CA
Newton, MA
Pleasanton, CA
Redmond, WA
Sugar Land, TX
Walnut Creek,CA
White Plains, NY

Suburbs

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Best Atlanta Suburbs
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