2019 Best Places to Live in San Luis Obispo CountyAbout this List

San Luis Obispo

• Town in California
• 81 reviews

Current Resident: My experience here in San Luis Obispo has been wonderful. Everyone is super friendly, the weather is pretty much the same all year, and the farmer's market is easily the best in America. This town has so much to offer like a plethora of hiking and biking trails, the beach nearby, helicopter tours, and the very first Jamba Juice location! The one thing I would change about this town would be drive thru's. There are none! It would be nice to have a drive thru or an In-N-Out in the city limits. Other than that I have no other complaints about the town!
Read 81 Reviews

• A

• A

• 46,997 Population

Pismo Beach

• Town in California
• 16 reviews

Current Resident: I love the beach area, the environment and the friendliness of everyone. The schools are great and the people are so nice. It is very safe, and the food is delicious. Downtown is cute and a good way to explore a small town in California. There are many things to do here!
Read 16 Reviews

• A-

• B+

• 8,060 Population

Los Osos

• Town in California
• 57 reviews

Current Resident: Imagine a tribe of grubby, little adventurers running barefooted through the streets, their parents at home cooking dinner, fully trusting their young children are safe. This is what my childhood looked like growing up in Los Osos. I spent every minute of daylight outside, whether it be spent in the hills, kayaking in the bay, running down the dunes in Montana de Oro, or simply running a muck in the charming, sidewalk-lacking streets of the quaint little town that I have called home for 20 years. Every hiking trail and dirt road has a glowing, wholesome childhood memory associated with it. I only hope that it has this same small town, family feeling when it comes time for me to raise my own children-- because there is no place I'd rather raise a family. The newest addition to the town is the drive-thru Starbucks, and I only hope the expansion stops there because I like my little town just the way it is!
Read 57 Reviews

• B+

• A

• 15,714 Population

Arroyo Grande

• Town in California
• 37 reviews

Current Resident: It is a very small business oriented town. The demographics are a mixture between elderly white people and young adults of mixed ethnicity. The crime rates are extremely low. The overall presentation of the community is very gorgeous and is fairly active. They have some sort of festival just about once a month in the village. There are a solid amount of good restaurants of all varieties and the people are a lot more personable than those who live closer to Los Angeles. There are a good amount of elementary and middle schools in the city along with Arroyo Grande High School. I run into a lot of people who really feel comfortable raising their kids in the city and are happy living here. The only negative thing about living in the community is that there is a very dim night life for the younger generations. It is also fairly expensive to rent or buy a house in the area, but if you can afford it you should get a place. All in all, it is a great town to live!
Read 37 Reviews

• B+

• B+

• 17,971 Population

Cayucos

• Town in California
• 1 review

Current Resident: Cayucos is a great sleepy little town. Locals look out for each other and the school is great. Typical summer months, June - August, can be foggy and some call it the "June Gloom." The best weather is usually October through mid-December with mostly sunny days.
Read 1 Review

• B+

• A

• 2,847 Population

Cambria

• Town in California
• 2 reviews

Former Resident: I recently moved to Cambria about 3-4 years ago from North Carolina and it is such a lovely area. It is completely different from North Carolina in many ways. Cambria is right next to the beach. Everyone I came across was so sweet all the time! It is a cute old town with many antique material type shops. Also, the weather is always so amazing, which is always a plus! There is not any nightlife or much of anything to do after 9pm. I think it is more of a retirement town, and I would definitely love to retire here!!
Read 2 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• 5,934 Population

Morro Bay

• Town in California
• 6 reviews

Niche User: Morro Bay is a lovely community that has plenty of Athletic things to do including surfing, hiking, and much much more. It is extremely tourist as well.
Read 6 Reviews

• B+

• A

• 10,568 Population

Grover Beach

• Town in California
• 32 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet, old beach town. Grover Beach is located near Cuesta College Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (~20 minutes away). The cost of living is low compared to nearby San Luis Obispo and is located close to a variety of small, cultured beach towns. The crime rate is low any many of the residents are either friendly old locals or students. The surf community here is prominent, and you will often see locals from the "5 cities" (dubbed for Grover, Shell, Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande and Oceano) out in the water. Overall a very relaxing and comfortable place to live with a low crime rate. The cost of living is slowly rising as people discover it's beauty!
Read 32 Reviews

• B

• B+

• 13,524 Population

Templeton

• Town in California
• 10 reviews

Former Resident: Raised up in Templeton and graduated Templeton Unified High School I love the small friendly, family feeling that came from most of residents. Most business were handed down from their family. Everyone watches out for neighbors without being a busy body and gossip. Known for its grapes and lots of Wineries, its back windy roads and wild life are beautiful. Templeton also has the hospital for northern area of San Luis Obispo. Templeton boarders Paso Robles, which is the home of the Mid-State Fair.
Read 10 Reviews

• B

• A-

• 7,989 Population

Oceano

• Town in California
• 17 reviews

Current Resident: Great town, small community, local farms and close to the beach. Oceano is next to another four cities and combines they are referred to as "the five cities".
Read 17 Reviews

• B

• B+

• 7,788 Population

Atascadero

• Town in California
• 37 reviews

Current Resident: Atascadero is a great place to raise a family. Although the town is small, it is filled with incredible people. Making friends in school is amazing and playing sports with them is even better. The town comes together to watch the sports teams and makes you feel important. There is not much to do here, which needs to change. There needs to be more fun, outgoing places that attract the youth and tourists.
Read 37 Reviews

• B

• B+

• 29,797 Population

Avila Beach

• Town in California

• B-

• A

• 1,080 Population

Santa Margarita

• Town in California
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: Santa Margarita is a quaint little town just outside of San Luis Obispo. It a place where neighbors gather at the local Post office to get their mail and have a conversation with one another. We have a two wonderful restaurants The Southern Station and The Range. The Range is more fine dining, serving steak where the southern station is family friendly and features signature sandwiches. There is also a local wine tasting room called Ancient Peaks with a variety of wines harvested from the Santa Margarita vineyards. Finally if food is not what you are looking for but rather entertainment we have Margarita Adventures where one can venture onto the vineyards and partake in ziplining.
Read 2 Reviews

• B-

• B+

• 1,394 Population

El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)

• Town in California
• 77 reviews

Current Resident: Paso Robles is a small town with a population of about 35,000 people. The central place for all fun in the park on spring street. There is a beautiful playground with little lights that are lit at night, green grass, trees, and benches. Held in this park are farmers markets, holiday celebrations, and during the summer is "Music in the Park". This is when local bands play for free and the town comes together, sits on the lawn, and listens to the music. Traffic in the morning on Niblic road is almost always backed up, due to the high school. Weather is usually dry, in the summer it gets to about 110, and in the winter 45.
Read 77 Reviews

• B-

• B+

• 31,409 Population

Nipomo

• Town in California
• 51 reviews

Current Resident: I lived in Nipomo for 23 years,raised my family here. I like the close knit community as well as the schools. I enjoy knowing my neighbors and local businesses owners. The shopping could expand in this area as we have only one grocery store and our town is growing! Nipomo is not far from bigger cities like Santa Maria,San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande. Travel time to these cities is no more than 20 minutes away. Their is some recreational activities year round,like Octoberfest,car shows,farmers market and even a cruise night which allowed us to bring out our vintage car. Overall Nipomo is a great place to live,located in a great area on the Central Coast, the weather couldn't be better and the people are family orientated!
Read 51 Reviews

• B-

• B+

• 16,706 Population

Callender

• Town in California

• B-

• B+

• 1,679 Population

Garden Farms

• Town in California

• A

• B+

• 279 Population

San Simeon

• Town in California

• B+

• A-

• 523 Population

Edna

• Town in California

• B

• A

• 195 Population

Lake Nacimiento

• Town in California

• C+

• B

• 2,806 Population

Whitley Gardens

• Town in California

• C

• B+

• 293 Population

Shandon

• Town in California
• 4 reviews

Current Resident: Small town with a nice park, in the middle of grape country, 20 minutes from the next town over. No gas station, two convenience stores, and a post office.
Read 4 Reviews

• C

• C+

• 1,219 Population

San Miguel

• Town in California
• 12 reviews

Current Resident: Cute historic town with kind people. Close-knit community. New construction and community revitalization is happening slowly, but surely
Read 12 Reviews

• C-

• C+

• 2,824 Population

Los Berros

• Town in California

• D+

• B+

• 483 Population