Best Places to Live in California (2012)
Household Income, Educational Attainment, and Property Crime Rates
This article, the second in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in California based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.
Among the twenty best places to live in California, fifteen are in the San Francisco Bay area (mostly in the Silicon Valley), and five are in the Los Angeles area. By county, four of the best places to live in California are located in Santa Clara County, four in San Mateo County, three in Marin County, three in Los Angeles County, three in Contra Costa County, two in Orange County, and one in Alameda County.
After reading "Best Places to Live in California (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in California (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."
This article may be updated as new data becomes available.
1. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Los Altos Hills, CA (Santa Clara County)
Population: 8,442
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $118,680
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 80.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.74
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 39 miles NNW
Oakland, CA - 40 miles NNW
San Jose, CA - 17 miles ESE
Stanford, CA - 4 miles NNW
Berkeley, CA - 49 miles NNW
Sacramento, CA - 120 miles NNE
2. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Atherton, CA (San Mateo County)
Population: 7,269
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $139,007
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 81.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.86
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 29 miles NNW
Oakland, CA - 35 miles NNW
San Jose, CA - 22 miles SE
Stanford, CA - 4 miles SE
Berkeley, CA - 40 miles NNW
Sacramento, CA - 115 miles NNE
3. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Hidden Hills, CA (Los Angeles County)
Population: 2,281
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $161,015
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 58.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.44
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Los Angeles, CA - 28 miles ESE
Anaheim, CA - 54 miles SE
Malibu, CA - 23 miles SSW
Laguna Beach, CA - 78 miles SSE
San Diego, CA - 148 miles SSE
4. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Hillsborough, CA (San Mateo County)
Population: 10,651
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $133,096
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.41
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 17 miles N
Oakland, CA - 27 miles NNE
San Jose, CA - 35 miles SE
Stanford, CA - 20 miles SE
Berkeley, CA - 28 miles NNE
Sacramento, CA - 102 miles NE
5. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Portola Valley, CA (San Mateo County)
Population: 4,451
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,944
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 86.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.62
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 36 miles NNW
Oakland, CA - 44 miles NNW
San Jose, CA - 26 miles ESE
Stanford, CA - 7 miles NE
Berkeley, CA - 46 miles N
Sacramento, CA - 121 miles NNE
6. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Woodside, CA (San Mateo County)
Population: 5,486
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $117,713
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.04
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 32 miles NNW
Oakland, CA - 42 miles N
San Jose, CA - 25 miles SE
Stanford, CA - 6.2 miles E
Berkeley, CA - 43 miles N
Sacramento, CA - 118 miles NNE
7. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Saratoga, CA (Santa Clara County)
Population: 30,248
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $96,020
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 76.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.51
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 48 miles NNW
Oakland, CA - 50 miles NNW
San Jose, CA - 12 miles NE
Stanford, CA - 17 miles NNW
Berkeley, CA - 57 miles NNW
Sacramento, CA - 128 miles NNE
8. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Los Altos, CA (Santa Clara County)
Population: 28,163
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $99,450
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 75.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.26
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 37 miles NW
Oakland, CA - 40 miles NNW
San Jose, CA - 16 miles ESE
Stanford, CA - 5 miles NW
Berkeley, CA - 44 miles NNW
Sacramento, CA - 121 miles NNE
9. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Belvedere, CA (Marin County)
Population: 2,134
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $87,150
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.9
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 17 miles SSE
Oakland, CA - 27 miles SE
San Jose, CA - 64 miles SE
Stanford, CA - 49 miles SSE
Berkeley, CA - 24 miles E
Sacramento, CA - 89 miles NE
10. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Monte Sereno, CA (Santa Clara County)
Population: 3,542
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,606
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 72.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.53
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 54 miles SSE
Oakland, CA - 51 miles NNW
San Jose, CA - 12 miles NNE
Stanford, CA - 23 miles NW
Berkeley, CA - 56 miles NNW
Sacramento, CA - 127 miles NNE
11. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Piedmont, CA (Alameda County)
Population: 10,440
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $93,289
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 83.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 8.63
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA -13 miles SW
Oakland, CA - 3 miles SW
San Jose, CA - 45 miles SSE
Stanford, CA - 40 miles S
Berkeley, CA - 5 miles NNW
Sacramento, CA - 82 miles NE
12. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Palos Verdes Estates, CA (Los Angeles County)
Population: 13,520
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $90,181
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 72.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.45
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Los Angeles, CA - 27 miles NNE
Anaheim, CA - 36 miles E
Malibu, CA - 44 miles NW
Laguna Beach, CA - 51 miles SE
San Diego, CA - 122 miles SE
13. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - San Marino, CA (Los Angeles County)
Population: 12,795
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,620
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 75.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.75
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Los Angeles, CA - 12 miles SW
Anaheim, CA - 30 miles SSE
Malibu, CA - 47 miles WSW
Laguna Beach, CA - 55 miles SSE
San Diego, CA - 124 miles SSE
14. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Orinda, CA (Contra Costa County)
Population: 18,198
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $83,570
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.29
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 18 miles SW
Oakland, CA - 9 miles SW
San Jose, CA - 49 miles SSE
Stanford, CA - 46 miles S
Berkeley, CA - 8 miles W
Sacramento, CA - 78 miles NE
15. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Tiburon, CA (Marin County)
Population: 8,634
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $67,813
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.96
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 17 miles SSE
Oakland, CA - 28 miles SE
San Jose, CA - 65 miles SSE
Stanford, CA - 49 miles SSE
Berkeley, CA - 24 miles E
Sacramento, CA - 89 miles NE
16. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Danville, CA (Contra Costa County)
Population: 41,079
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $90,662
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.16
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 31 miles WSW
Oakland, CA - 22 miles WSW
San Jose, CA - 40 miles S
Stanford, CA - 46 miles SSW
Berkeley, CA - 22 miles WNW
Sacramento, CA - 79 miles NNE
17. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Villa Park, CA (Orange County)
Population: 5,948
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $103,649
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.85
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Los Angeles, CA - 35 miles NW
Anaheim, CA - 7 miles WNW
Malibu, CA - 69 miles WNW
Laguna Beach, CA - 23 miles S
San Diego, CA - 93 miles SSE
18. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Ross, CA (Marin County)
Population: 2,020
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,044
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 80.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.84
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 18 miles SSE
Oakland, CA - 23.3 miles SE
San Jose, CA - 64 miles SSE
Stanford, CA - 50 miles SSE
Berkeley, CA - 19 miles SE
Sacramento, CA - 85 miles NE
19. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Moraga, CA (Contra Costa County)
Population: 17,131
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,160
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 67.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.28
Distance to Familiar Cities:
San Francisco, CA - 22 miles SW
Oakland, CA - 12 miles SW
San Jose, CA - 54 miles SSE
Stanford, CA - 49 miles S
Berkeley, CA - 12 miles NW
Sacramento, CA - 79 miles NE
20. Best Places to Live in California (2012) - Irvine, CA (Orange County)
Population: 204,096
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,838
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 64.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.93
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Los Angeles, CA - 41 miles SE
Anaheim, CA - 16 miles NW
Malibu, CA - 75 miles NW
Laguna Beach, CA - 13 miles S
San Diego, CA - 84 miles SSE
*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.
Source(s):
"All Cities in California," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports - California," Federal Bureau of Investigation
Published by J.C. Grant
A writer interested in education, finance, health, history, law, music, polemics, politics, satire, sports, statistics, travel, and trivia. View profile
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8 Comments
Post a Comment3/3 San Francisco, yes SF is nice to live in and I would not select Oakland as a city on the outskirts of SF. As always suggested, visit the cities you are considering relocating to. The best time to drive by is mid afternoon, after school and on the weekends to see the vibe of the community. Good luck, I hope my feedback can help someone.
2/3 liquor stores or in front of apartments buildings or on street corners. Claremont, LaVerne, and parts of Upland are also very nice and yes affordable. The only downside is we are approximately 50 miles East of LA. So, if you work in LA the drive will not be friendly. I use to commute almost 2 hrs each way when I worked in downtown LA until I found something closer. Using the Metro Link or leaving before 5:45am will be best. We have less traffic, less crime, no helicopters flyer over your house and if you are in need of authority assistance they will respond within minutes. Again from my opinion Sierra Lakes Fontana is pretty nice also, but any other parts of Fontana I would not live in, but that depends on what you are looking for in a community. Rialto, Moreno Valley is a no, no. Corona, Murrieta, and Temecula are also pretty descent places to live but a long commute to LA unless you find work closer. Orange County have some very nice areas as well. As the article mention San Fran
I've lived in So California for the majority of my life. There are several places not mentioned in this article that are "good neighborhoods or best areas to live". I lived in L.A. for 6 years in the Crenshaw district and I hated it. L.A. is a hit and miss city like many places. Best areas in or around LA if you can afford to live there is: Hancock Park, Crescent Heights, West LA, Beverly Hills, Westchester, Redondo Bch, Marina Del Rey, Bel Air, Brentwood. If you choose any area in LA to live I would visit first. If you cannot just visit and have planned your move already then I would suggest renting first. Ok now moving on.... I've live in Rancho Cucamonga for over 5 years and I love it. The schools are great! one of the best in the state. Some consider us the Beverly Hills of the Inland Empire but I'm not really sure what that is suppose to mean. People are very friendly, the streets are clean and you don't see people loitering in front of liquire stores o
Lived in South Calif for a whle - loved it, just too expensive. I'll be taking a computer break for a couple weeks. Merry Christmas!
Not sure I could handle living in Kalifornia or not. Anyway, still an informative piece, J.C.
I'm with JerseyNana, I'm an East Coast girl forevermore :) cheers!
I wouldn't pick CA as a home unless I had to and in that case I'd take San Francisco.
Great job, J.C. but I'm a Jersey Girl forever!