Eureka, Humboldt County
The most important metropolis on California’s north coast, with a inhabitants of about 30,000
Local weather: 0 annual days above 100 levels anticipated, 2035-2064 (1st percentile of 367 cities)
Well being and wellness: Ranks round common (prime 50% of all cities) within the well being index
Recreation: Above common (prime 20%) in variety of parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $419,000 (eighth percentile); typical hire for a single -family residence: $1,516 (third percentile)
Arcata, Humboldt County
A smaller school city just a few miles from Eureka, residence to Cal Poly Humboldt
Local weather: 0 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Above common (prime 40% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Wonderful (prime 10%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $510,000; typical hire: $1,700
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PROS: Coastal location, cooler temperatures, comparatively reasonably priced housing, near breathtaking nature and seashores.
CONS: Removed from any massive cities. A drive from Los Angeles would take practically 11 hours, and that’s with none visitors (good luck with that!).
The Samoa Peninsula in Eureka chills in drizzle and fog as the remainder of the state swelters.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Instances)
Benicia, Solano County
An exurb alongside the Carquinez Strait nestled within the outer Bay Space
Local weather: 11 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Wonderful (prime 10% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Wonderful (prime 10%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $820,000; typical hire: $2,406
PROS: Reasonable local weather, entry to wilderness and the San Joaquin river, and comparatively near Bay Space inhabitants facilities.
CONS: Site visitors, adjoining to sky-high Bay Space housing and residing prices.
Large Bear Lake, San Bernardino County
A mountain resort city inside a comparatively quick drive of Los Angeles
Local weather: 0 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Above common (prime 40% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Common (prime 50%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $587,000; typical hire: $2,000
PROS: Wonderful mountain location, excellent for hikes, water sports activities and snowboarding. Alpine really feel however lower than an hour to suburbia and fewer than two hours from Los Angeles.
CONS: Could also be a bit remoted, particularly to those that transfer to properties exterior of downtown Large Bear. Snow storms, mudslides and wildfires are a continuing hazard.
Sign Hill, Los Angeles County
A hilly, 2.2 sq. mile city of 11,000 residents, surrounded by town of Lengthy Seaside
Local weather: 4 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Above common (prime 40% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Wonderful (prime 10%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $792,000; typical hire: $2,082
PROS: Central location, nice views of the harbor and metropolis, and near Southern California’s city sights.
CONS: Small, compact location amid city and industrial visitors.
Honest Oaks, Sacramento County
A tony Sacramento suburb overlooking the American River and parkland
Local weather: 56 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Superb (prime 15% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Good (prime 40%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $616,000; typical hire: $1,992
PROS: Entry to nature with close by Sacramento river, loads of open area and parks.
CONS: Publicity to excessive warmth with altering local weather, comparatively costly for the realm.
Crescent Metropolis, Del Norte County
The final main California coastal metropolis earlier than hitting Oregeon
Local weather: 0 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Poor (backside 20% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Good (prime 40%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $361,000; typical hire: $1,500
PROS: A lot decrease price of residing than most California cities, easy accessibility to redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean.
CONS: Extraordinarily distant by California requirements, with few sights in comparison with most city and suburban areas. Faces seismic and tsunami hazard.
Grass Valley, Nevada County
A Sierra mountain city with Gold Rush historical past, lengthy a well-liked retirement vacation spot
Local weather: 19 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Under common (backside 40% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Round common (prime 50%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $516,000; typical hire: $1,737
PROS: Nice location for climbing, snowboarding, tenting, historical past, and proximity to Lake Tahoe.
CONS: Chilly, snowy winters (although some retirees favor such circumstances), and lengthy distance from main cities. Fireplace hazard
Emeryville, Alameda County
The town between the Bay Bridge and Oakland has a suburban really feel
Local weather: 1 annual day above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Wonderful (prime 10% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Wonderful (prime 10%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $524,000; typical hire: $2,935
PROS: Proximity to inhabitants facilities and workable public transit and entry to San Francisco Bay.
CONS: Typically foggy, windy and chilly, with publicity to Bay Space price of residing.
Belmont, San Mateo County
A small Silicon Valley/Peninsula suburb with very good scores on well being and high quality of life components
Local weather: 2 annual days above 100 levels anticipated
Well being and wellness: Stellar (prime 5% of all cities) in well being index
Recreation: Superb (prime 15%) in parks per capita
Affordability: Typical residence worth: $2,145,000; typical hire: $2,731
PROS: Entry to Bay Space cities, wonderful high quality of life metrics akin to faculties and well being care. Near San Francisco airport.
CONS: Excessive price, and publicity to Silicon Valley visitors.
Deciding on one of the best retirement locations in California is a subjective and presumably foolhardy train. This evaluation assumes that sensible components like affordability are most salient, and that much less tangible components like tradition or leisure are much less essential. Nonetheless, this rating takes all of these components into consideration.
The underside 5 cities had been largely in Southern California, with excessive housing prices, far too costly for a typical California retiree.
