2023 Best Suburbs to Live in California

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  55 reviews

Current Resident: Very peaceful town, full of fantastic shops, stores, cafes, and restaurants to check out. Generally feels very safe, mostly populated by college students and families. Albany Bulb and Albany Hill Park are beautiful hiking/walking spots to check out, the former near the ocean and the latter providing great views.... Read 55 reviews

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• Population 19,958

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  154 reviews

Current Resident: Santa Monica is a very peaceful coastal city. It has extensive beautiful beaches, a pier, a boardwalk, and borders the neighborhood of Venice. Santa Monica is a great place to walk with spacious parks, cafes, galleries, and restaurants. We have a unique school system with an abundance of options depending on which part of the city you occupy. I give it four stars because Santa Monica lacks diversity and is very expensive. Because of skyrocketing rent prices, small and historical businesses are shut down left and right and replaced by luxury and novelty goods shops that most cannot afford.... Read 154 reviews

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• Population 92,828

• 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

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  94 reviews

Current Resident: South Pasadena is an amazing suburb to live in. It is a very clean, safe, and inclusive environment. We are like one tight-knit community and we all love our city and try to take care of it as much as possible. There isn't a lot to do in South Pasadena but it is a great place to live in. The clean air here is just amazing. Housing is probably the biggest problem here though in the fact that it is expensive to live here. Ultimately, this is a very nice place to live at.... Read 94 reviews

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• Population 26,837

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.41 out of 5  54 reviews

Nearby Resident: Hermosa Beach is a quaint beach town with tons to do. It has both a great day and night life. There are significant shops to visit and restaurants to eat at. Overall, I would recommend visiting!... Read 54 reviews

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• Population 19,787

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  141 reviews

Current Resident: Mountain View is in the middle of silicon valley! Mountain View is filled with so many job opportunities and other opportunities for students. Recreation center offers various classes for people of all ages to sign up and stay active. The community is nice and close.... Read 141 reviews

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• Population 82,409

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.37 out of 5  204 reviews

Current Resident: Redondo is such a beautiful place to live. I am very blessed for being able to call this city my home. I grew up here my whole life and I wouldn’t change a thing! The people here are so welcoming and friendly. Our community feels so close together, and everyone knows everyone. There are so many different “mom and pop” shops that are all so unique. The beach is just a nice little drive away. There are so many different things to do here I never get bored! I am always discovering new places down here with friends and family! I hope that one day I too will be able to raise my kids down here so they can experience what I did. I am forever grateful!... Read 204 reviews

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• Population 70,998

• City in California

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  206 reviews

Current Resident: Berkeley is a diverse and inclusive city with a mix of residents from various ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This diversity enriches the community and contributes to a wide range of cultural experiences. Also, Berkeley is situated in a picturesque setting with the Berkeley Hills to the east and the San Francisco Bay to the west. The city has numerous parks, hiking trails, and beautiful viewpoints.... Read 206 reviews

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• Population 119,607

• City in California

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  598 reviews

Nearby Resident: I love Irvine! I went to UCI for my bachelors degree and it was a beautiful area. There are many activities to do beyond campus life. My friends and I would ride our bikes in the park and then get food from the University Town center. Irvine became a second home for my friends and I. We would study all day and night in the library and then we would go to the movies in the town center. On the weekend, when we did not have much studying to do, we would go to university town center to interact with other college students. Irvine is not only a great place to raise a family, it is also one of the safest neighborhoods around the area. Additionally, because Irvine is a college town there are many job opportunities If I could, I would live in Irvine to pursue my future buying a house and raising children. To add the cost of living in Irvine is high and over the years has gone up; however, I believe that the cost of living is worth the amazing lifestyle one with achieve by living in Irvine.... Read 598 reviews

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• Population 297,868

• Suburb of San Diego, CA

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  Rating 4.42 out of 5  36 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in San Diego for nearly my entire life, and I've always found my heart resting in my home region of Solana Beach. The sheer energy of this region highly sets it above all others. My neighbors, family, and friends who inhabit this wonderful little town of the beach never seem to have any issues revolving around their home, and have always been exceedingly kindhearted. I take immense pride in being able to be fortunate enough to live in this beautiful region of San Diego, and I would have never wanted to grow up anywhere else.... Read 36 reviews

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• Population 13,025

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  92 reviews

Nearby Resident: Lovely neighborhood with amazing houses and people! Palm trees are a cool addition. Safe environment, farmer's market on the weekends, streets that are clean and nicely paved... One thing I would change: La Canada has a very bubble-like quality. Because it is such a middle-upper class suburbs, many people are dissociated from the "real world." This can be both beneficial and harmful, but I would love for residents to go out of their comfort zone a little more. Explore!... Read 92 reviews

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• Population 20,613

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.39 out of 5  197 reviews

Current Resident: Culver is very nice for the most part. It is relatively clean and I have had no issues with violence or theft. My only complaint is parking and the ridiculous amount of tickets and restrictions there are. They do not have things clearly marked off, will give tickets with no valid reason and when you attempt to challenge them, you get ignored. I'm from Chicago and never received as many parking tickets as I have living in Culver. They also do not have a very good system with their traffic lights.... Read 197 reviews

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• Population 40,640

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  109 reviews

Current Resident: I like the family friendly activities that are available in Palo Alto. There are excellent schools, shops, and restaurants. The people are very friendly and the weather in the Bay Area is amazing year-round!... Read 109 reviews

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• Population 68,624

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.39 out of 5  33 reviews

Former Resident: Growing up in Foster City was fantastic! It is a fantastic place to raise a family. The water and parks are serene. Don't expect a nightlife - there isn't one. As someone in their 20's, I am looking for something else, with a little more excitement.... Read 33 reviews

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• Population 33,511

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  67 reviews

Current Resident: San Carlos is blessed with great weather throughout the year. All of North, South and Easy bay are easily accessible making our daily commute very easy. The neighborhood has quaint downtown full of restaurants with excellent food and ambience. Even the new apartments being built by the Laurel street and the Caltrain station are aesthetically pleasing. SC is full of Redwood and other large trees. Edgewood park is close by and great for hikes and picnics. Trader Joe's, Lucky, Home depot, TJ Max, etc are close by. Access to highly rated schools, downtown book shops, SC Youth center makes it perfect for kids too!... Read 67 reviews

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• Population 30,754

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  58 reviews

Current Resident: Love this town... but diversity should get a C grade at best - especially compared to the surrounding area. High income is required to live here ($200k+) and household costs are grossly understated on this site. Farmer's market, parks, few good restaurants, town owned by one family who refuses to modernize and hampers small business growth, awesome teachers, etc. Loads of jobs within an hour commute but perfect town to work remotely from.... Read 58 reviews

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• Population 16,750

• Suburb of San Jose, CA

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: I love the open space, the wildlife, the feel of close to major freeways, jobs and activities yet feels far away from the noise of big city life.... Read 5 reviews

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• Population 8,520

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.34 out of 5  41 reviews

Current Resident: Burlingame is home! I moved here with my mom and dad when I was 2 1/2. My two little sisters were born here, this is home! Everywhere you go - you will see a friendly smile and friends who you grew up either in school or from the local softball team. Burlingame is clean, the people are kind and the weather is usually beautiful! Of course, I am so excited for August when I go away to school, but I will truly miss my town. I already cannot wait to come back to visit, because I know that I will be welcomed home with so many hugs and smiles!... Read 41 reviews

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• Population 31,142

• Suburb of San Diego, CA

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  Rating 4.35 out of 5  17 reviews

Former Resident: It's really beautiful and safe. It is rather expensive though. I went to a public school and the education there was fantastic.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 4,008

• Suburb of Sacramento, CA

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  370 reviews

Current Resident: Davis is a quaint, vibrant and welcoming community. I want to emphasize the word "community" because there is a shared ethic amongst all people here to treat each other with kindness and respect that I have not seen in other towns. Davis offers its students an array of activities in its bustling downtown. Additionally, the university offers an abundance of opportunities for students to be involved with recreational activities of their interest. The school also helps provide students with internship and job opportunities. The campus and town are extremely bike-friendly, so much so that there are more bikes than people in the city of Davis! Most key locations are located within a short bike ride of each other so you will not need to worry if you do not own a car. It also affords us the opportunity to lower our carbon footprint! Overall, I would highly recommend living in Davis to those individuals who are willing to be part of and foster a loving community.... Read 370 reviews

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• Population 67,208

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: San Anselmo has a very involved community with downtown parties nightly with different local bands playing. The town is very cute, the main area containing different types of shops and a few parks scattered around the town. It's a very pretty area and has a lot of biking, hiking, and walking opportunities. Although, it's not very diverse, the main majority being white people. It is also incredibly expensive to live at, all houses reaching an average of one million dollars to buy.... Read 38 reviews

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• Population 12,795

• 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

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  232 reviews

Current Resident: I would say one of my main priorities when looking for a location to live is how safe the area/neighborhoods are. I would definitely vouch for San Ramon not only being extremely safe feeling but also extremely clean kept and beautiful. The city is sourrounded by beautiful hills and red wood trees that make you have a nice Northern California feel to it. I grew up in Pleasanton a few towns down and about 15 minutes away, and I would say it is pretty similar to Pleasanton just missing a cute downtown area to walk around. That is one thing I would change, adding a downtown or something similar. Thats not to say we aren't surrounded by many establishments because there are a good amount of shopping centers to enjoy with food, grocery stores, select department stores and even an outdoor mall. Another thing I would choose to change if I had the power, would be the extremely high and ridiculous prices. And I'm not only talking prices for living situations but for the local spots and stores.... Read 232 reviews

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• Population 85,688

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  15 reviews

Visitor: Quaint town, beautiful place to visit. A nice place for empty nesters to relocate. Quite walkable too.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 10,145

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  34 reviews

Nearby Resident: It's hard to rate this one, on one hand, it is stunning beautifully situated scenic area, ocean views cliffs, the list goes on. A fantastic school district I think its one of the best in the country. But then town itself, almost no restaurants, zero nightlife, one road to get in and get out, traffic like hell because of that. No access to the beach. Older established successful crowd. Very private. This is a very place for someone who made it big, doesn't need to go to work anymore, or they run their successful business from their home. Speaking of homes. Amazing. Big (OLD) money town. Properties with land! That should give you a clue. Beautiful but isolated.... Read 34 reviews

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• Population 13,403