California is undoubtedly unlike any other state, boasting pristine beaches, crashing surf, gorgeous mountains, numerous cities, and year-round moderate temperatures. But residing in a place with such enticing features can sometimes come at a cost. And many Californians—especially those living in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco—are certainly feeling the financial squeeze, as the state’s housing and rent prices continue to climb but wages stay relatively stagnant.
Despite its infamous reputation as the most expensive state in the country, California (believe it or not) still has several economically sound places to reside. You just have to know where to look, and now you have some guidance.
Many Californians—especially those living in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco—are certainly feeling the financial squeeze, as the state’s housing and rent prices continue to climb but wages stay relatively stagnant.
Personal finance company SmartAsset crunched the numbers to determine the cheapest California cities to live in by creating an affordability index, which weighed property taxes, homeowners’ insurance fees, and mortgage payments relative to income.
The results? Most of the affordable cities are tucked away in California’s inland regions, where there are hotter summer temperatures and dry desert landscapes. The good news, however, is that many of them are still within close driving distance to popular destinations. For instance, one of the Central Valley cities on the list is less than a two-hour drive from both San Francisco and the famous California coastline. And the most affordable town—California City—is less than two hours away from Los Angeles.
So, if you want to live in one of America’s most exciting states but don’t want to deal with the high real estate prices (and still want to be close to famed attractions and bustling metropolitan areas), here are the five least expensive places to live in California.
The Cheapest Places to Live in California
1. California City, Kern County
Closest metropolitan city: Los Angeles, which is approximately two hours southwest
Median sale price: $163,000
Population: 14,000
Situated in the Antelope Valley, about 65 miles southwest of Death Valley National Park, California City is the third largest town in the state by area, boasting tons of open space. Homes in this Southern California city sell for less than $200,000, while condos go for under $100,000. The average annual mortgage payment is $4,674—which rivals the monthly rent of a one-bedroom condo in San Francisco.
2. Homeland, Riverside County
Closest metropolitan city: Palm Springs, which is about one hour away
Median sale price: $215,000
Population: 7,500
This suburban Southern California town is bordered by the San Bernardino National Forest and is merely an hour and a half away from Los Angeles. Homeland offers a variety of houses for around $200,000, with median mortgage payments averaging around $3,960.
3. Imperial, Imperial County
Closest metropolitan city: San Diego, which is situated two hours west
Median sale price: $252,800
Population: 180,000
Located between the California-Mexico border and the Salton Sea, Imperial is a vibrant agricultural community about two hours east of San Diego. The majority of houses in Imperial sell for under $300,000, while monthly rents for two-bedroom apartments hover around $1,000.
4. Madera Acres, Madera County
Location: San Jose, which is located two hours and fifteen minutes away
Median sale price: $289,000
Population: 10,000
Madera Acres is a small city nestled in the Central Valley, just outside of Fresno, where the average home sells for less than $300,000. Madera Acres is also ideally located; head west for about two and a half hours to arrive at the Golden State's iconic coastline, or drive less an hour and a half to the east to experience some of the best California campgrounds and explore such famed outdoor destinations as Sequoia National Forest and Yosemite National Park.
5. Ridgecrest, Kern County
Closest metropolitan city: Los Angeles, which lies two hours and forty minutes southwest
Median sale price: $206,000
Population: 28,800
Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Kern County, between Death Valley National Park and Sequoia National Forest, Ridgecrest is less than two hours away from the highest and lowest points in the continental United States (Mount Whitney and Badwater Basin, respectively). In this town, the median home price is $194,600, and the average rent of a one-bedroom apartment is less than $1,000 per month.
Obviously, cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles will never be on this list, but that doesn’t mean you will be missing out on all of the California fun. For instance, if you desire to be closer to the coast, check out Madera Acres. And if you want to live near the Mexico border and enjoy international date nights, you could try Imperial. These smaller cities may not offer oceanfront property or luxe mountain homes, but they are certainly affordable and they each have their own unique appeal. And who knows? They just may surprise you.
But if you are set on living in one of California's most exciting and diverse cities, here are the cheapest places to live in the Bay Area.
2 comments
Car Ke | Oct, 31
No jobs in any of those places except Riverside and most of those people are commuters.... driving 1.5 hours each way to either Orange County, San Diego County or LA County for jobs. Riverside has a lot of crime also. People are leaving this state due to taxes, utilities and the government running the state!! Schools here are awful!! Reply
Stephen Lee Byrd | Nov, 21
Prices are so high in California because of its very success in attracting way too many people, who are swamping the boat for everybody. Too many people is what bids up demand and prices skyrocket skyhigh. This is a natural balloon boom/bust cycle. As is already happening when prices get too high for too many people, they start to go somewhere else. That is exactly what we need: to encourage about 2/3 of the people now in California to go somewhere else. Reply