You might think that the whole hippie movement has faded away, but the truth is, there are plenty of hippies out there in California.
While they aren’t necessarily in your face all the time with war protests, and the next Woodstock isn’t being planned any time soon, we thought it would be fun to look at which cities in the Golden State where the most hippies would live.
And, after crunching the data, you know what? It was spot on.
How do you decide where the most hippies live? By the number of yoga studios, organic markets, and most importantly, where the liberals live in droves.
Using those criteria, it’s not hard to scrape the internet, run some scientific data on where hippies might live in California, and then put out a list.
So, put on your tie-dye shirt and sandals as you go through this list with us.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Cities In California With The Largest Hispanic Population For 2024
What’s the hippiest city in California? The hippiest city in California is Piedmont.
Read on below to see where your town ranked, Young Flower Child.
/10
Population: 10,957
% Liberal: 78.8%
More on Piedmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,497
% Liberal: 78.8%
More on Emeryville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,034
% Liberal: 72.1%
More on Atherton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,478
% Liberal: 74.3%
More on Corte Madera: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,020
% Liberal: 78.8%
More on Albany: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,043
% Liberal: 74.3%
More on Sausalito: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,546
% Liberal: 74.3%
More on Fairfax: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,131
% Liberal: 74.3%
More on Larkspur: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,043
% Liberal: 75.6%
More on Capitola: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,184
% Liberal: 69.7%
More on Rolling Hills Estates: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most beatnik city in California
In order to rank the best cities for hippies in California, we used Saturday Night Science to determine what criteria defines a hippie.
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the Google Places API, the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, and Voter Registration data, this is the criteria we used:
- Number of yoga studios per capita
- Number of organic markets per capita
- Number of pet adoption centers per capita
- Number of vegan restaurants per capita
- Number of thrift stores per capita
- Each city’s liberal voting population
For the sake of getting reliable numbers on places, we counted any place within a ~4.5 mile radius of a city’s center. The average city in the United States is about 18 square miles.
All of these results are listed in a per capita basis, meaning number of stores per person in a city. Additionally, we limited the analysis to non-CDPs that have over 5,000 people.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 414 in each category, where 1 was the most hippie.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a hippie index.
And finally, we crowned the city with the highest hippie index the “Best City for Hippies In California.” We’re looking at you, Piedmont.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in hippie central. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the places in the state from hippiest to most square.
Summary: The Hippies Of California
If you’re measuring the locations in California where there are lots of liberals, and there are many options for vegan food, yoga and thrift stores, this is an accurate list.
The most hippie cities in California are Piedmont, Emeryville, Atherton, Corte Madera, Albany, Sausalito, Fairfax, Larkspur, Capitola, and Rolling Hills Estates.
If you’re curious, here are the most square places in California:
- Corcoran
- Paradise
- Woodlake
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Best Places To Raise A Family In California
- Richest Cities In California
- Safest Places In California
Detailed List Of The Most Hippie Cities In California
| Rank | City | Population | % Liberal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piedmont | 10,957 | 78.8% |
| 2 | Emeryville | 10,497 | 78.8% |
| 3 | Atherton | 7,034 | 72.1% |
| 4 | Corte Madera | 9,478 | 74.3% |
| 5 | Albany | 19,020 | 78.8% |
| 6 | Sausalito | 7,043 | 74.3% |
| 7 | Fairfax | 7,546 | 74.3% |
| 8 | Larkspur | 12,131 | 74.3% |
| 9 | Capitola | 10,043 | 75.6% |
| 10 | Rolling Hills Estates | 8,184 | 69.7% |
| 11 | Los Altos Hills | 8,244 | 70.1% |
| 12 | La Habra Heights | 5,398 | 69.7% |
| 13 | San Anselmo | 12,527 | 74.3% |
| 14 | Signal Hill | 11,245 | 69.7% |
| 15 | Sebastopol | 7,535 | 71.1% |
| 16 | San Marino | 13,294 | 69.7% |
| 17 | Hillsborough | 11,148 | 72.1% |
| 18 | Woodside | 5,427 | 72.1% |
| 19 | Tiburon | 9,100 | 74.3% |
| 20 | Mill Valley | 14,178 | 74.3% |
| 21 | Beverly Hills | 34,536 | 69.7% |
| 22 | Cotati | 7,347 | 71.1% |
| 23 | Hermosa Beach | 19,725 | 69.7% |
| 24 | El Segundo | 16,839 | 69.7% |
| 25 | Sierra Madre | 11,060 | 69.7% |
| 26 | Lomita | 20,539 | 69.7% |
| 27 | Palos Verdes Estates | 13,568 | 69.7% |
| 28 | West Hollywood | 35,053 | 69.7% |
| 29 | Hawaiian Gardens | 14,432 | 69.7% |
| 30 | Lawndale | 33,155 | 69.7% |
| 31 | Indian Wells | 5,089 | 49.7% |
| 32 | Belmont | 26,503 | 72.1% |
| 33 | Artesia | 16,698 | 69.7% |
| 34 | Moraga | 16,549 | 66.4% |
| 35 | Villa Park | 5,911 | 45.6% |
| 36 | Solvang | 5,345 | 57.6% |
| 37 | Los Altos | 29,762 | 70.1% |
| 38 | Solana Beach | 13,146 | 52.6% |
| 39 | Campbell | 40,327 | 70.1% |
| 40 | San Gabriel | 40,173 | 69.7% |
| 41 | Maywood | 27,703 | 69.7% |
| 42 | South Pasadena | 25,914 | 69.7% |
| 43 | Santa Fe Springs | 16,859 | 69.7% |
| 44 | Manhattan Beach | 35,534 | 69.7% |
| 45 | Sonoma | 10,818 | 71.1% |
| 46 | San Carlos | 29,166 | 72.1% |
| 47 | Commerce | 12,975 | 69.7% |
| 48 | Lafayette | 24,685 | 66.4% |
| 49 | Millbrae | 22,177 | 72.1% |
| 50 | El Cerrito | 24,136 | 49.7% |
| 51 | Pleasant Hill | 33,842 | 66.4% |
| 52 | Saratoga | 30,627 | 70.1% |
| 53 | Los Alamitos | 11,598 | 45.6% |
| 54 | East Palo Alto | 28,920 | 72.1% |
| 55 | Pismo Beach | 7,789 | 48.8% |
| 56 | Menlo Park | 32,792 | 72.1% |
| 57 | Loomis | 6,589 | 39.0% |
| 58 | Fort Bragg | 7,274 | 66.2% |
| 59 | Grass Valley | 12,861 | 47.7% |
| 60 | Los Gatos | 30,163 | 70.1% |
| 61 | South El Monte | 20,375 | 69.7% |
| 62 | Santa Monica | 91,619 | 69.7% |
| 63 | Healdsburg | 11,466 | 71.1% |
| 64 | Big Bear Lake | 5,104 | 52.5% |
| 65 | Burlingame | 29,618 | 72.1% |
| 66 | Claremont | 35,569 | 69.7% |
| 67 | Ojai | 7,558 | 52.3% |
| 68 | Laguna Woods | 16,302 | 45.6% |
| 69 | Duarte | 21,676 | 69.7% |
| 70 | Calabasas | 23,956 | 69.7% |
| 71 | Pacific Grove | 15,365 | 67.1% |
| 72 | Agoura Hills | 20,630 | 69.7% |
| 73 | Lemon Grove | 25,963 | 52.6% |
| 74 | Pinole | 18,754 | 66.4% |
| 75 | La Verne | 31,592 | 69.7% |
| 76 | Bell | 35,896 | 69.7% |
| 77 | Grover Beach | 13,337 | 48.8% |
| 78 | Redondo Beach | 67,511 | 69.7% |
| 79 | Berkeley | 115,688 | 78.8% |
| 80 | Marysville | 12,144 | 39.1% |
| 81 | Grand Terrace | 12,252 | 52.5% |
| 82 | Montclair | 37,685 | 52.5% |
| 83 | Monterey | 28,053 | 67.1% |
| 84 | Cupertino | 59,787 | 70.1% |
| 85 | Scotts Valley | 11,711 | 75.6% |
| 86 | San Pablo | 29,516 | 66.4% |
| 87 | Seal Beach | 24,477 | 45.6% |
| 88 | Orinda | 18,390 | 66.4% |
| 89 | St. Helena | 5,895 | 63.0% |
| 90 | Coronado | 24,333 | 52.6% |
| 91 | Calimesa | 8,143 | 49.7% |
| 92 | Auburn | 13,690 | 39.0% |
| 93 | Rancho Palos Verdes | 42,282 | 69.7% |
| 94 | Palo Alto | 65,998 | 70.1% |
| 95 | Laguna Beach | 23,114 | 45.6% |
| 96 | Loma Linda | 23,648 | 52.5% |
| 97 | Riverbank | 23,310 | 50.0% |
| 98 | Half Moon Bay | 11,803 | 72.1% |
| 99 | Arroyo Grande | 17,536 | 48.8% |
| 100 | Cerritos | 49,599 | 69.7% |