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Ranked for Outdoor Lovers

Best Places to Live in California for Outdoor Lovers

Public land, clean air, small towns, sunny and mild Ranked by how well each place fits the Outdoor Lovers profile across cost, schools, climate, and safety — see how we score.

Top 25 places

  1. #1South Lake TahoePopulation 21,346 · mixed overall livability100% match
  2. #2NipomoPopulation 18,009 · mixed overall livability100% match
  3. #3Los OsosPopulation 15,523 · solid overall livability100% match
  4. #4MagaliaPopulation 9,245 · mixed overall livability100% match
  5. #5ParadisePopulation 6,666 · solid overall livability100% match
  6. #6Eastern Goleta ValleyPopulation 29,563 · solid overall livability90% match
  7. #7Suisun CityPopulation 29,350 · mixed overall livability90% match
  8. #8BeniciaPopulation 27,040 · solid overall livability90% match
  9. #9HerculesPopulation 26,041 · solid overall livability90% match
  10. #10LafayettePopulation 25,310 · solid overall livability90% match
  11. #11Bay PointPopulation 24,407 · mixed overall livability90% match
  12. #12AshlandPopulation 23,164 · mixed overall livability90% match
  13. #13Port HuenemePopulation 21,847 · solid overall livability90% match
  14. #14American CanyonPopulation 21,669 · mixed overall livability90% match
  15. #15DixonPopulation 19,071 · mixed overall livability90% match
  16. #16PinolePopulation 18,946 · mixed overall livability90% match
  17. #17Arroyo GrandePopulation 18,435 · solid overall livability90% match
  18. #18CherrylandPopulation 15,499 · mixed overall livability90% match
  19. #19El SobrantePopulation 15,497 · solid overall livability90% match
  20. #20Isla VistaPopulation 14,722 · solid overall livability90% match
  21. #21AlamoPopulation 14,355 · mixed overall livability90% match
  22. #22Mill ValleyPopulation 14,199 · solid overall livability90% match
  23. #23CarpinteriaPopulation 13,187 · solid overall livability90% match
  24. #24LarkspurPopulation 12,969 · solid overall livability90% match
  25. #25San AnselmoPopulation 12,761 · solid overall livability90% match

Match % is a range-based fit: the share of this profile's weighted factors whose value for a place lands inside the profile's preferred band. It is not an absolute quality score, and very small communities are excluded from this list.

Tune these weights yourself on the interactive map →

Disagree with the ranking? Drag the sliders for outdoor lovers and watch the map re-score every place in California live.

Other ways to rank California

Best for Affordable LivingBest for RetireesBest for Young FamiliesBest for Great WeatherBest for Walkable City Living

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