Do you want to retire and live life to the fullest in California? If YES, here are 10 best cities in California to enjoy retirement without breaking the bank.
There is a saying that goes thus “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. In essence, if you fail to make plans for your retirement, then you are planning to have a miserable retirement. The truth remains that the best time to start planning for your retirement is from the very first day you are employed or from the first day you start your own business as an entrepreneur.
In this article, we will be looking at key components/statistics that will be of great benefit to you if you when it comes to choosing a city to retire in California.
Why Retire in California?
Please note that California is a good place to retire and it is important to point out that California can boast of a GDP of $2.797 trillion (2017), GDP growth of 3.0 percent (2017), and GDP per capita of $71,209 (2017). California has a 13.3 percent (absolute) 19.0 percent (relative) of population below poverty line and an effective Labor force of 19,286,476 (December 2017) with an Unemployment rate of 4.2 percent (Jan. 2019).
California has loads of tempting benefits for retirees. As a matter of fact, when compared to other cities in the West Coast, California has loads of cities that people can choose to retire to. California offers tax exemptions for retirees, national parks and other entertainment. The Golden State can provide a great lifestyle during retirement.
If you are looking towards retiring in California, here are 10 of the best cities you can choose from;
10 Best Cities in California to Enjoy your Retirement Life
- Claremont
Claremont is one of the cities in California that a retiree can choose to retire to. Claremont has a median rent of $1,399 and is just 8 miles away from the closest airport in California. Claremont is a city on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, California, united states, 30.3 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
It is in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, and has a population, as of the 2015 United States Census estimate, of 36,283 people.
- Imperial
Imperial is yet another good choice for those who are looking for a city to retire to in California. Imperial is a city in Imperial County, California. Imperial is located 4 miles north of El Centro. The city has a median rent of $1,233 and the city is just 12 miles away from the closest airport in California.
As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 14,758. It is part of the El Centro metropolitan area. There are loads of attractions that can keep retirees engaged in the city. Nearby recreation facilities transform the desert into a popular Valley tourist destination due to availability of activities.
Three year-round golf courses are within minutes of Imperial. The sand dunes provide a place for campers and dune buggy enthusiasts. This region is well known for its abundance of bird species such as dove, quail, ducks, pheasant and geese.
- Saratoga
Another pretty good city to settle down in California for retirees is Saratoga. Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Median Rent for Saratoga is $2,410 and the city is just 8 miles away from the closest airport in California. The population of the city was 29,926 at the 2010 census. Located on the Western edge of the Silicon Valley, Saratoga is known locally for its suburban small-town feel, wineries, and high-end restaurants. Major attractions of Saratoga include Villa Montalvo, Hakone Gardens, and the Mountain Winery.
- Alameda
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to and south of Oakland and east of San Francisco across the San Francisco Bay. The median rent of the city is $1,478 and the city is just 2 miles from the closest airport in California.
One of the choicest places to retire in the city is Bay Farm Island, a portion of which is also known as “Harbor Bay Isle”. The place is not actually an island, and it is part of the mainland adjacent to the Oakland International Airport.
The city’s estimated 2017 population was 79,928. Alameda is a charter city, rather than a general law city, allowing the city to provide for any form of government. Alameda became a charter city and adopted a council-manager government in 1916, which it retains to the present.
- Torrance
Torrance is a U.S. city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California. Torrance has 1.5 miles of beaches on the Pacific Ocean. The city can boast of a population of 147,307 and the median rent for the city is $1,512. The city is just 8 miles away from the closest airport in the city.
Torrance has a moderate year-round climate with warm temperatures, sea breezes, low humidity and an average rainfall of 12.55inches per year. On the southwestern side of Los Angeles County, this beach city is diverse, safe and full of fun. Torrance is home to 1.5 miles of Pacific Ocean beaches.
It has warm weather almost year-round and many entertainment and recreational activities. Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Anaheim are all less than an hour away. Also, Torrance has some of the lowest crime rates in the state and is considered the safest city in Los Angeles County.
- Thousand Oaks, California
Aside from being the second – largest city in Ventura County, Thousand Oaks is one of the top destinations for retirees California. Thousand Oaks is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and for good reason.
It has a wide range of arts, literature and music that make it a cultural hotbed in California. There’s also a network of trails for backpacking, mountain biking and camping. Thousand Oaks has the best safety and crime ratings on this list.
According to recent FBI reports, Thousand Oaks is the fourth-safest city in the nation, with a population greater than 100,000. It also has high marks for healthcare providers and medical centers. The fact that the city is 40 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles, gives retirees access to big-city entertainment and nightlife and this will be highly appreciated by those who retire young.
- Moraga
If you are looking for a warm city that is around coastal region to retire to in California, then one of your best options is to head to Moraga. Moraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The median rent for the city is $1,909 and the distance to the closest airport in California is 10 miles. The city is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was Jos Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza. As of 2010, Moraga had a total population of 16,016 people.
- San Marino
San Marino is yet another very good city that a person who is looking towards retiring in California should consider. San Marino is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated on April 12, 1913, the city was designed by its founders to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well – maintained parkways.
The city is located in the San Rafael Hills. The population of the city is put at 13,147 at the 2010 census. The closest airport from San Marino is 20 miles.
- Palm Springs
Palm Springs is another good place to retire to in California. Palm Springs is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 55mi east of San Bernardino, 107mi east of Los Angeles, 123mi northeast of San Diego, and 268mi west of Phoenix, Arizona.
The median rent of the city is $973 and the distance to the closest airport from the city is 2 miles. The population was put at 44,552 as of the 2010 census. Palm Springs covers approximately 94 square miles, making it the largest city in the county by land area.
- Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. Pasadena and Altadena are to its west, with Arcadia to its south and east. Sierra Madre is known as “Wisteria City”, and its city seal is decorated with a drawing of the now widely known 500-foot vine. It is also called the “Village of the Foothills” and was an All-America City in 2007.
Sierra Madre is a city in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 U.S. Census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census. The median rent for the city is $1,469 and the distance to closest airport from the city is 25 miles. If you are looking towards retiring and still stay close to Los Angeles, then Sierra Madre should be your best bet.