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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. #1DanvillePopulation 43,449 · solid overall livability67% match
  2. #2Los AltosPopulation 31,133 · solid overall livability67% match
  3. #3SaratogaPopulation 30,771 · solid overall livability67% match
  4. #4LafayettePopulation 25,310 · solid overall livability67% match
  5. #5WascoPopulation 26,317 · solid overall livability59% match
  6. #6Rancho Palos VerdesPopulation 41,805 · mixed overall livability56% match
  7. #7Newport BeachPopulation 85,159 · solid overall livability54% match
  8. #8DublinPopulation 71,068 · solid overall livability54% match
  9. #9Walnut CreekPopulation 69,809 · mixed overall livability54% match
  10. #10LodiPopulation 66,509 · solid overall livability54% match
  11. #11NovatoPopulation 53,055 · mixed overall livability54% match
  12. #12Los GatosPopulation 33,093 · solid overall livability54% match
  13. #13San CarlosPopulation 30,490 · solid overall livability54% match
  14. #14BeniciaPopulation 27,040 · solid overall livability54% match
  15. #15San RamonPopulation 86,119 · mixed overall livability47% match
  16. #16HemetPopulation 89,651 · mixed overall livability46% match
  17. #17DelanoPopulation 50,498 · mixed overall livability46% match
  18. #18El CentroPopulation 44,184 · mixed overall livability46% match
  19. #19CalexicoPopulation 38,599 · mixed overall livability46% match
  20. #20AdelantoPopulation 37,960 · mixed overall livability46% match
  21. #21OildalePopulation 34,796 · mixed overall livability46% match
  22. #22Desert Hot SpringsPopulation 32,386 · mixed overall livability46% match
  23. #23East NilesPopulation 29,981 · mixed overall livability46% match
  24. #24Twentynine PalmsPopulation 28,006 · mixed overall livability46% match
  25. #25BrawleyPopulation 26,509 · mixed overall livability46% 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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