Best small towns to live in California

1. 1
   Plymouth, CA Score 75/100

   1,056 people · typical home $377k · household income $93k · 232 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 58% of CA · 5.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   East Quincy, CA Score 75/100

   2,723 people · typical home $323k · household income $70k · 299 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 46% of CA · 4.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Kingsburg, CA Score 73/100

   12,755 people · typical home $374k · household income $77k · 202 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 43% of CA · 7.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Camino, CA Score 73/100

   2,079 people · typical home $499k · household income $97k · 247 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of CA · 3.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Grizzly Flats, CA Score 72/100

   1,410 people · typical home $384k · household income $92k · 247 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 51% of CA · 1.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Solvang, CA Score 72/100

   6,034 people · typical home $950k · household income $109k · 205 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of CA · 2.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Auburn, CA Score 71/100

   13,768 people · typical home $673k · household income $83k · 172 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 39% of CA · 4.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Quincy, CA Score 71/100

   1,317 people · typical home $301k · household income $89k · 299 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 46% of CA · 13.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Pine Grove, CA Score 70/100

   3,040 people · typical home $413k · household income $89k · 232 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 58% of CA · 6.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    North Auburn, CA Score 70/100

    13,480 people · typical home $530k · household income $71k · 203 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of CA · 4.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Camanche Village, CA Score 70/100

    2,291 people · typical home $453k · household income $156k · 232 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 68% of CA · 2.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Alta Sierra, CA Score 69/100

    7,361 people · typical home $564k · household income $106k · 295 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of CA · 3.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Cutten, CA Score 69/100

    3,550 people · typical home $471k · household income $97k · 358 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 57% of CA · 2.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Ione, CA Score 68/100

    9,156 people · typical home $475k · household income $91k · 127 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 58% of CA · 6.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Winters, CA Score 68/100

    7,583 people · typical home $634k · household income $123k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 67% of CA · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Sunnyside-Tahoe City, CA Score 68/100

    1,599 people · typical home $1.0M · household income $118k · 203 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of CA · 1.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Mount Shasta, CA Score 68/100

    3,182 people · typical home $330k · household income $48k · 349 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of CA · 1.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Avila Beach, CA Score 67/100

    1,303 people · typical home $1.2M · household income $158k · 240 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 17% of CA · 2.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Fortuna, CA Score 67/100

    12,326 people · typical home $380k · household income $62k · 201 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 56% of CA · 7.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    St. Helena, CA Score 67/100

    5,318 people · typical home $1.6M · household income $149k · 99 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 29% of CA · 5.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Montague, CA Score 67/100

    1,479 people · typical home $184k · household income $60k · 311 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 54% of CA · 9.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Pollock Pines, CA Score 67/100

    6,212 people · typical home $394k · household income $75k · 247 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 47% of CA · 5.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Buckhorn, CA Score 67/100

    3,504 people · typical home $361k · household income $90k · 232 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 73% of CA · 4.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Diamond Springs, CA Score 67/100

    10,927 people · typical home $423k · household income $77k · 247 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of CA · 8.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Bolinas, CA Score 66/100

    1,334 people · typical home $2.0M · household income $125k · 166 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 6% of CA · 4.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in California with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in California on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other California districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

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