2022 Best Suburbs to Live in California

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.32 out of 5  145 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 145 reviews

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• Population 91,600

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.47 out of 5  53 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 53 reviews

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• Population 19,147

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  53 reviews

Nearby Resident: Lovely & walkable - If you can't afford Albany, look at the Richmond hills and at the little portion of San Pablo that is East of 1-80 - a hidden gem - we paid $500,000 less than you would for a small cottage in Albany for a spacious home off Alpine in San Pablo w/ panoramic views of the Bay - but Albany is just 5 min away and we love it! There's plenty of free street parking so its easy to drive there and walk. Great restaurants and cafes and a great indie movie theater too. And good schools.... Read 53 reviews

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• Population 20,145

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  131 reviews

Current Resident: I love Mountain View with my whole heart! I have grown up here my whole life, and it hasn't failed to provide fun, jobs, sense of community, and trust. They have such fun and welcoming holiday events that are free for anybody to attend, and have an amazing community center that I live very close to. The community center provides anything you could imagine! From dance classes, tutoring, yoga, daycares, and more, the City of Mountain View doesn't stop with provisions for their community. I have gotten lucky enough to work for the City as a lifeguard, and it has been the most fun and enjoyable experience I've had in all my years living here. They hire teens from the age of 15, pay extremely well, and it is a super fun and engaging job to have during the summer! I have learned so much in my years living here, and I hold a space very close to my heart for Mountain View.... Read 131 reviews

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• Population 80,104

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  91 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 91 reviews

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• Population 35,064

• City in California

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  191 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Berkeley has been an extremely eye-opening experience. I am currently attending the University of California Berkeley so I have been able to experience the city first hand. The public transportation is excellent and punctual. The city is dense. but not so much that it feels congested. This makes it easy to get around with or without a car, which is important for young students. The northside seems like a great place to raise a family, while the southside provides a range of shops and nightlife to engage in. It is truly a city that has something for everyone.... Read 191 reviews

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• Population 123,065

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  93 reviews

Current Resident: I love to take walks here because it is safe, the weather is fantastic, and there are so many trees! I love the cute shops on Mission and Fair Oak. Sometimes, the mansions here make you feel like you're walking in the Loire Valley. I have heard that locals are slightly racist towards Latinx people. I have not noticed it, but I can believe it. The stories I have heard about include rude looks and demeaning remarks. Latinx students also are not encouraged to do well in school. South Pasadena's property values are partially due to the public schools. They are safe, and the students here usually do very well academically. However, the schools do not look after students' mental health. The high school counseling department turns away students when they come with issues, and the academically competitive atmosphere is often very tense. Overall, the stores and the vibe of the town are great, but you might have trouble with the social structure.... Read 93 reviews

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• Population 25,478

• City in California

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  Rating 4.37 out of 5  539 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 539 reviews

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• Population 272,694

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.34 out of 5  194 reviews

Current Resident: Redondo Beach is absolutely amazing! The city is extremely clean with many places to dine in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The beaches are extremely clean, and the pier is filled with fun activities. There are many places to take photos, enjoy the beach, get food, and spend quality time. The schools are also amazing, the district provides students with the necessary resources to help them succeed and prepare them for the future. The city itself is pretty safe, and if there were anything, local authorities are always on top of it. Redondo is also close to the freeways which allows you easy access to get where ever you desire to go. Although the property is on the more expensive side, the views, people, and cleanliness make up for it.... Read 194 reviews

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• Population 66,663

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  97 reviews

Current Resident: Palo Alto is a great city to live in. It mixes a suburban and urban lifestyle almost perfectly. It is residential enough to be laid back, but still busy enough to not be boring. Because of Stanford's proximity, it means that there is often a lot of great food in the downtown area. Furthermore, people are often very kind and the city is very diverse. The only shortcoming is its expensiveness. It is a bubble; those who can comfortably live in the city often forget that many would not be able to afford our lifestyles. But overall, and partially because of the affluent neighborhoods, it is a great place for families, as there are many green areas and parks.... Read 97 reviews

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• Population 67,973

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  91 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 91 reviews

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• Population 20,078

• Suburb of San Diego, CA

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  Rating 4.43 out of 5  35 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 35 reviews

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• Population 13,301

• Suburb of San Jose, CA

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: A lot of animals around, quiet neighborhood. Very nice place to bike or hike or just walk and jog around. Great neighborhood overall... Read 5 reviews

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• Population 8,496

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.47 out of 5  34 reviews

Current Resident: I'm only 11 years old, but I have lived here for more than 7 years and has really been a welcoming community for me! It welcomed me well in preschool, I went to Wildwood school and I can strongly say that all the teachers were very friendly and nice. I have also made a ton of friends throughout the years! I think that my experience in Piedmont has been very good and I have really enjoyed living here and hope to keep living here throughout the years.... Read 34 reviews

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• Population 11,454

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  33 reviews

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• Population 13,359

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  40 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 40 reviews

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• Population 30,071

• Suburb of San Diego, CA

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  15 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 15 reviews

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• Population 4,331

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 4.42 out of 5  189 reviews

Current Resident: Culver City is an inclusive city that cherishes diversity and welcomes all kinds of people! Although we could take better care of our environment by stopping loitering in some places, many of us care for our town and strive to make it a more sustainable place. The weather is always beautiful and the city is close to the beach. Neighbors and other citizens are friendly and many of us feel safe in this area. At the same time, there are many students and adults who continue to fight for issues like gender and racial equality to make this city a better place for everyone.... Read 189 reviews

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• Population 38,913

• 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 33,056

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: It is an excellent gated equestrian community to raise a family.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 1,439

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  57 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 57 reviews

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• Population 16,896

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  62 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 62 reviews

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• Population 29,647

• Suburb of Sacramento, CA

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  354 reviews

Visitor: I visit my Grandma often in Davis. We go all around Davis, and I feel like that even that I don’t live here, I am familiar with Davis enough to be reviewing it. I can even review the night-life, because I have stayed at my Grandma’s overnight. I think Davis is a wonderful little town where you can bike everywhere, you will send your kids to a school filled with kind teachers, a university that has a good animal school, a good farming school, and a good wining school right down the road, a few miles at the most. Davis does a great job protecting the eco. Davis also fills kids’ summers with fun. They provide fun summer camps for kids of all ages, and they dim the lights at night so you can just see where you are going, but you can see the stars. But the houses are definitely not cheap, they cost just as much as Sacramento! We wanted to move to Davis, but it’s too expensive. Learn a lot. Protect the eco. Find yourself in a reality you’ve never lived in. That’s Davis!... Read 354 reviews

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• Population 68,640

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  49 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 49 reviews

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• Population 13,020

• Suburb of Los Angeles, CA

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  Rating 3.72 out of 5  71 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 71 reviews

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• Population 33,709