2023 Best Places to Retire in California

Nearby Resident: Carmel is a pretty, small city located on the south of the Monterey Peninsula. It has a well-developed downtown with numerous restaurants, galleries, and stores. The coastline is pretty with a scenic drive and beaches. Crime is very minimal. Housing is usually quite expensive. It can be hard to navigate through the city as most roads are narrow and road names many not be easily identified. There is only one highway going into the city which can create traffic jams often on the highway.... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 3,296

Current Resident: Ok, this is actually Pebble Beach, and I've lived here for 24 years. Pluses are the best golf in the world, super low density living in a forest with Pacific Ocean views, proximity to Carmel, Monterey, Point Lobos and Big Sur. Probably one of the prettiest places to live in America. Another plus is that if you are very rich, you can buy an amazing home here...if you are not so fortunate it is a great place to visit, take the 17 Mile Drive, play Poppy Hills golf course, visit the Lodge, take a walk along Spanish Bay. People are real and not pretentious; most are here because this is a result of a lifetime of hard work and business success. About 92% of families here do not have kids, so expect a very tranquil experience with an older crowd. Monterey Airport can get you almost anywhere, or you can drive up to San Jose and then anywhere in the world. Come visit!... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 3,604

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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• Population 2,309

• Suburb of San Diego, CA

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  Rating 4.35 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Very nice area, very safe. Good schools and houses. Pretty expensive cost of living. Safe area to grow up in/raise kids, but a little sheltered. People can be close-minded.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 4,008

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.45 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: After recently moving to Larkspur, I immediately felt at home among the family-owned shops and multitude of friendly faces. The commute to school is quick and easy, and I am able to meet new friends through the incredible public school system surrounding my house. The well maintained parks and trails surrounding my house help me to stay active and have fun outside.... Read 20 reviews

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• Population 12,972

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 3.71 out of 5  72 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, I feel that Beverly Hills is often times a very warm suburb when you encounter every day people in the neighborhood and local area. Despite the reputation the city has, people are extremely friendly and welcoming. It is not much different from other suburbs I have lived in before.... Read 72 reviews

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• Population 32,903

• Suburb of Irvine, CA

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  Rating 3.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: good weather and friendly neighborhood. Most importantly it is a very safe area both for society, and natural disasters such as tornados, earthquacks. Here the weather is the best for entire United States because we are very close to ocean and therefore very clean air, and yet because our ocean water is very cool coming from Alaska and therefore we are dry and not humid. So regardless how hot the day is, once the sun is down, we always have cool evenings.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 17,546

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.46 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: I love the beach! There are lots of opportunities for work and play throughout the neighborhood. I especially like the parks and the libraries and the restaurants.... Read 50 reviews

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• Population 25,216

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  Rating 4.39 out of 5  84 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful beach town in Southern California! Great place to live or visit. Very safe and “American Dream” nostalgic.... Read 84 reviews

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• Population 85,806

Visitor: A wonderful town. Beautiful and soothing. Lots to do or just relax. The beaches are very clean. Great selection of restaurants , anything you could want is near by.... Read 1 review

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• Population 1,613

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.73 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: I live in Alamo and would consider it a very safe suburb. Excellent public schools in the area, with a great restaurant and downtown scene either in Danville or Walnut Creek, both very close by. Very expensive place to live mostly populated by families and couples. Not known for diversity, but very small welcoming community.... Read 22 reviews

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• Population 13,852

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  200 reviews

Current Resident: The downtown is amazing! There are countless stores to choose from, and each and every single one of the stores are all super-duper trendy and glamorous. I really appreciate having the privilege of being able to live in this pleasurable place. There are quite a few people living in this town, but it is a large place. There are many different elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, and a college nearby, too. Most of the schools are great, and earn a high amount of points on school-review websites. Also, there are a lot of events that go on within Walnut Creek, such as the Art and Wine Festival, the Walnut Festival (an annual tradition), and the running festival. Walnut Creek is located at the foot of Mount Diablo, which is a very fabulous and snazzy mountain that you can climb up. Every decade, it will snow, sometimes only every few years, and everyone goes outside when it falls. I am very happy that I can grow up somewhere like here. I really love Walnut Creek.... Read 200 reviews

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• Population 69,876

Current Resident: I moved to Pacific Grove, California in December of 2018 and I have loved living here ever since. The town is just off the coast and just outside of Monterey. The town is friendly for families and all different ages. One of my favorite areas in this town is Lovers Park. This park sits just by the ocean and includes beach volleyball and cute restaurants all around it. Pacific Grove is a great town to raise a family or to just enjoy the beauty of the area. I've had very few complaints about this town and I continue to enjoy the area more and more every day!... Read 52 reviews

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• Population 15,169

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 3.82 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: The neighborhood is beautiful and very clean with many townhomes, apartments, condos, and houses. There are many parks and in the center of elementary, middle, and high schools. However, the community is very close-knit and roads are very slim.... Read 22 reviews

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• Population 8,494

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: A beautiful and safe place to live. What used to be an area only for snowbirds and elderly, is starting to turn into a great community for younger families who want to be around the best schools in the desert. Most of Indian wells is a very short drive or walking distance to private schools, and the best charter school great for walking, hiking, hiking, and so centrally located to anything you would ever need.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 4,827

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  34 reviews

Current Resident: Palos Verdes Estates showcases bucolic scenery with palatial homes. Abundantly verdant! Whether you're walking or driving, Palos Verdes Estates exudes an Edenic vibe. The previous statement doesn't qualify as an exaggeration. Some gardens match Versailles in the precision of manicure; others resemble evergreen forests unsullied by human efforts. All in all, this suburb stands as a bedroom community. Nightlife must be obtained off the hill. Any attempts towards noise pollution will be harnessed. Quiet entrances merit quiet exits. A sweet life to be felt in Palos Verdes Estates.... Read 34 reviews

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• Population 13,403

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: This is a hidden jewel, we have one shopping center no apartments or condos schools are all in walking distance and everyone around here walks and rides bikes. The only thing the conservatives are hard nose older people but still good people. I love that the new owners coming in are a mix of people. Very safe place to live. Not a lot of night life here and it is very expensive because it’s hard to find large lots like these in the O.C... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 5,864

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  50 reviews

Nearby Resident: The only way to tell where Alhambra ends and San Marino begins is the color of the street signs because both cities are gorgeous. San Marino has ordinances that keep it very safe. The city has no bars/convenience stores/ liquor stores, no fast food restaurants, no retail chain stores, no supermarkets, no hotels, no theaters, and only one 24-hour gas station. All other businesses close no later than 7:30pm, and the parks close no later than 8:30pm. There are also very few apartments/condos. There are no public activities in the evenings which eliminates most reasons for non-residents to be in the city after dark. It's a guarantee that the only vehicles you will see on the streets in the late evening/early morning hours are the police. If you desire to live in a city where an assortment of restaurant/bar/shopping options are convenient or within walking distance, then this is not where you would want to live. Residents need to venture to neighboring cities for such options & amenities.... Read 50 reviews

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• Population 12,620

• Suburb of Sacramento, CA

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, it's pretty nice to live here, it's just that there's not much to do in Gold River itself--there's plenty things to do outside the neighborhood, and it's relatively close to stores and whatnot, but everything is usually 10 minutes away, if not further. Nice place, though.... Read 48 reviews

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• Population 7,932

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  39 reviews

Current Resident: Very nice area but not much to do for younger folks. Everything is very clean and high quality with lots of hiking trails and nature all around, but less entertaining activities for a younger bunch. I wish there were more things open past 9pm but it's a beautiful area regardless.... Read 39 reviews

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• Population 8,081

Niche User: This is a beautiful area with great friendly people. The motto of Santa Cruz is "keep Santa Cruz weird". There are definitely a lot of weird people in Santa Cruz, but its amazing, only in Santa Cruz it is where you see certain things, but its is so expensive, most likely because its touristic.... Read 10 reviews

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• Population 5,369

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Works Here: The town of East Sonora itself offers a small variety of experiences appropriate to a small town. You won't find big city advantages or disadvantages; similarly you find the most rural advantages or disadvantages.... Read 1 review

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• Population 2,654

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  230 reviews

Current Resident: From starting off in my Montessori School at 5 years old in the Cerritos/Artesia area where I was able to make childhood memories & receive an amazing education, to now attending Whitney High School (the #1 high school in California) where I’m able to expand my opportunities, appreciate my culture & press forward with my passion to be a scholar, oCerritos has been the perfect environment to grow up in. One of the key memories I have from growing up in the welcoming city of Cerritos is waking up in the morning and going to Island Pacific (a Filipino grocery store) with my Papang and picking out snacks, buying adobo, & ordering siopao. Cerritos has exposed all of my family & friends to new cultures, amazing places like restaurants and the beautiful library, & has truly provided an accepting environment for all who come, near and far. So, with the diverse community & the unique sites that surround us, the city of Cerritos has given me and many others a true home.... Read 230 reviews

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• Population 49,630

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  39 reviews

Current Resident: It's so amazing! I am so blessed to be living within this community. The atmosphere is unlike any city I have lived in thus far and continues to be a beacon to family and friends as I share the awesome opportunities the desert provides myself and my family. I've been able to work an amazing job, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat some amazing food, and play some incredible golf. Being able to meet friends out here is super easy too so that makes life so much more enjoyable as well.... Read 39 reviews

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• Population 17,129

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.39 out of 5  92 reviews

Current Resident: What I like about Manhattan Beach is the connected community that we live in. It is a safe environment for kids to be able to exist in, and overall it is a very chill beach town where anyone that comes to visit would enjoy their time. Although there is not much to do, and most activities in MB are expensive, it is still nice to be able to drive around at night, and have fun down at the beach with your friends. What I would fix about Manhattan Beach would be some issues with the publuc education system. While academics are high, social issues are still relevant in our high school and middle school. Other than that, I think that Manhattan Beach is a great place to live, other than the price to live there.... Read 92 reviews

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• Population 35,585