10 Best Places to Live in California

We’ve all seen that commercial, you know, the one with Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Beckham, Vanessa Williams, Phil Mickelson, and Rob Lowe telling you why you should visit California. And they’re right…you should visit California, and then maybe even think about living there, too. Thanks to Yahoo!, check out the 2012 Top 10 Best Places to Live in California:

Los Altos Hills

The town has a total of 8.8 sq. miles of land, and both the Altamont and Monte Vista Faults pass through the town. The city is only 17 miles away from San Jose. While the town doesn’t have a post office, library, or commercial zone, residents enjoy the views from the many hills that make up this small town. I would say that Los Altos Hills is one of the most beautiful places to live in California.

Atherton

Considered part of the San Francisco metropolitan area, Atherton boasts many active community organizations. Shirley Temple Black, Guy Kawasaki, and Jerry Rice are just a few of the notable residents of Atherton. Residents in Atherton enjoy the open, scenic spaces of the town. 

Hidden Hills

This is one of California’s most friendly and family-oriented communities. During the summer, the kids can go to a camp with theatre programs, annual parades, parties, and community-wide barbecues. Residents love being close to the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space reserve, with equestrian, hiking, and mountain biking trails. Hidden Hills is great for families.

Hillsborough

Located just 17 miles from San Francisco, Hillsborough is filled with many mansions within the town dating from before the early 20th century. There are no apartments, condos, or townhouses within the city limits. Residents of Hillsborough love the 307 days of sunshine per year.

Portola Valley

Named for Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola, who led the first party of Europeans to explore the San Francisco Peninsula in 1769. Portola Valley is located just off Interstate 280, just west of Palo Alto. Residents love the wooded area and open plans that Portola Valley provides.

That’s only five of the great places to live in California! Keep reading to see the other five top places to live in California!

Woodside

When 20-year-old Mathias Alfred Parkhurst purchased 127 acres of timberland during the 1849 California Gold Rush, he named the land “Woodside.” Horses are very much a part of the culture in Woodside. Most residents own horses, and the town government maintains the horse trails throughout the town. More and more residents are saddling up and head to Woodside!  

Saratoga

Saratoga is well-known for its small-town feel, great tasting wineries, and high-end shopping. This Blue Hills neighborhood connects to many hiking trails for residents to use. If you move to Saratoga, you’ll be moving to Kerri Walsh’s home town! You could definitely call Saratoga a cool place to live in California!

Los Altos

This bedroom community is close to San Francisco. Three creeks flow north to San Francisco Bay from Los Altos: Stevens Creek, Hale Creek, and Adobe Creek. Residents love the quaint feel of the town and the Los Altos School District, with one of the highest API scores in the state! 

Belvedere

This town is a sailing community that consists of two islands and the Belvedere Lagoon between them. Most houses in Belvedere are Victorian style architecture. There are no restaurants or stores allowed in the town, but the town of Tiburon close by offers all the things Belvedere does not.

Monte Sereno

The city is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and is 10 miles away from San Jose. This community is a bedroom community for the well-known Silicon Valley. While there’s no commercial zoning in Monte Sereno, there are many municipal services provided by nearby Los Gatos.

Moving to California

Although none of the “big” cities are listed at the 10 best cities to live in California, like San Diego and San Francisco, most of these locations are close to the big cities!

Do you live in one of these top California cities? Let us know by commenting below! We’d love to hear about why you love living in one of the top 10 best places to live in California!

And remember, if you’re planning to move to California, move with U-Pack®. U-Pack is a “you pack, we drive” moving service with rates comparable to truck rental. Let U-Pack do the driving while you get to your new home in Cali on your own time! Get a free moving quote now to start comparing rates.