When people think of glamorized retirement states, many first think of Florida. But when you stop and think about it, California has it all. It has mountains and trails, beaches and surfing, and cities with a seal or two. It is one of America’s most idealized states because of the perfect weather, activities, and people.
So if you’re thinking of Californiaas a top destination for your retirement, we put together a list of the best places to rest on your laurels. Large cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco are hard to afford on your pension. You need to find the best places to retire on an average budget.
To do that, we considered places in California with things to do, like museums and libraries, but that wouldn’t make you go broke. We used Saturday Night Science to account for factors like cost of living, weather, and the distance to the nearest airport.
We have figured out which California cities are the best for retirement.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In California For 2024
What is the best place to retire in California? Auburn is the best place to retire in California, according to our most recent data.
Interested to see how we crunched the numbers? Keep reading for a detailed look at our top ten best cities for retirement in California and to learn more about methodology.
Why did Auburn take the top spot? And where are Los Angeles and San Diego?
For more California state reading:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Best Places To Raise A Family In California
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In California For 2024
/10
Population: 13,773
Median Income: $73,074
Median Home Price: $604,011
Median Rent: $1,364
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Auburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 44,935
Median Income: $67,451
Median Home Price: $648,185
Median Rent: $1,397
Distance to Closest Airport: 2 miles
More on Palm Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,151
Median Income: $128,056
Median Home Price: $1,347,845
Median Rent: $1,994
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Sierra Madre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,430
Median Income: $83,029
Median Home Price: $371,900
Median Rent: $1,300
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Imperial: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 30,771
Median Income: $237,730
Median Home Price: $3,602,379
Median Rent: $3,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Saratoga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 38,599
Median Income: $51,667
Median Home Price: $337,495
Median Rent: $1,087
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Calexico: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 36,891
Median Income: $115,091
Median Home Price: $926,202
Median Rent: $1,970
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Claremont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 50,131
Median Income: $99,434
Median Home Price: $631,747
Median Rent: $2,067
Distance to Closest Airport: 20 miles
More on Lincoln: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,257
Median Income: $105,557
Median Home Price: $883,199
Median Rent: $1,642
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Rancho Mirage: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 60,386
Median Income: $76,892
Median Home Price: $879,700
Median Rent: $1,791
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on Monterey Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Golden State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in California to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Golden State — 1481 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 350 places from across the state.
For these 350, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 350, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Auburn, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in California.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In California Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in California goes to Auburn.
The best places to retire in California are Auburn, Palm Springs, Sierra Madre, Imperial, Saratoga, Calexico, Claremont, Lincoln, Rancho Mirage, and Monterey Park.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Los Banos
- Shafter
- Arvin
For more California reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In California
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | 13,773 | $73,074 | $604,011 | $1,364 |
| 2 | Palm Springs | 44,935 | $67,451 | $648,185 | $1,397 |
| 3 | Sierra Madre | 11,151 | $128,056 | $1,347,845 | $1,994 |
| 4 | Imperial | 20,430 | $83,029 | $371,900 | $1,300 |
| 5 | Saratoga | 30,771 | $237,730 | $3,602,379 | $3,501 |
| 6 | Calexico | 38,599 | $51,667 | $337,495 | $1,087 |
| 7 | Claremont | 36,891 | $115,091 | $926,202 | $1,970 |
| 8 | Lincoln | 50,131 | $99,434 | $631,747 | $2,067 |
| 9 | Rancho Mirage | 17,257 | $105,557 | $883,199 | $1,642 |
| 10 | Monterey Park | 60,386 | $76,892 | $879,700 | $1,791 |