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Ranked for Retirees

Best Places to Live in California for Retirees

Warm winters, low taxes, low crime, clean air, a calmer pace Ranked by how well each place fits the Retirees profile across cost, schools, climate, and safety — see how we score.

Top 25 places

  1. #1NeedlesPopulation 4,895 · mixed overall livability69% match
  2. #2Homestead ValleyPopulation 2,546 · mixed overall livability69% match
  3. #3NicePopulation 2,389 · solid overall livability69% match
  4. #4Clearlake OaksPopulation 2,074 · mixed overall livability69% match
  5. #5Fort DickPopulation 1,295 · mixed overall livability69% match
  6. #6DanvillePopulation 43,449 · solid overall livability67% match
  7. #7Los AltosPopulation 31,133 · solid overall livability67% match
  8. #8SaratogaPopulation 30,771 · solid overall livability67% match
  9. #9LafayettePopulation 25,310 · solid overall livability67% match
  10. #10MillbraePopulation 22,825 · solid overall livability67% match
  11. #11OrindaPopulation 19,477 · solid overall livability67% match
  12. #12Mill ValleyPopulation 14,199 · solid overall livability67% match
  13. #13San AnselmoPopulation 12,761 · solid overall livability67% match
  14. #14Half Moon BayPopulation 11,633 · solid overall livability67% match
  15. #15TiburonPopulation 9,115 · solid overall livability67% match
  16. #16Los Altos HillsPopulation 8,441 · solid overall livability67% match
  17. #17KensingtonPopulation 5,309 · solid overall livability67% match
  18. #18WoodsidePopulation 5,256 · solid overall livability67% match
  19. #19Portola ValleyPopulation 4,397 · solid overall livability67% match
  20. #20RossPopulation 2,537 · solid overall livability67% match
  21. #21BelvederePopulation 2,327 · solid overall livability67% match
  22. #22Avila BeachPopulation 1,599 · solid overall livability66% match
  23. #23Camp Pendleton MainsidePopulation 9,599 · solid overall livability62% match
  24. #24Vandenberg AFBPopulation 3,681 · solid overall livability62% match
  25. #25WascoPopulation 26,317 · solid overall livability59% 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 retirees and watch the map re-score every place in California live.

Other ways to rank California

Best for Affordable LivingBest for Young FamiliesBest for Outdoor LoversBest for Great WeatherBest for Walkable City Living

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