There’s a lot to love about California, including its moderate climate, beaches, things to do, and its spectacular natural beauty. If you’re thinking about moving your family there or moving from within the state, there are plenty of great options when it comes to places to live. With that, we’ve created a list of five of the most family friendly cities in California.
San Ramon. Money Magazine cited San Ramon as the best place to live in Northern California in a 2016 article. The city gets high marks for is well-kept neighborhoods, its abundance of parks, and highly-rated schools. It also offers plenty of job opportunities.
San Ramon also has a wide range of family-friendly amenities such as Central Park, the Community Center, and a library that has been recently renovated.
Corona. Located on the fringes of Los Angeles and Riverside, Corona is considered a bedroom community for these larger locales. What’s to like about Corona? For one, the commute is comfortable and typically doesn’t include the infamous traffic jams often found in Southern California.
Corona’s public schools have a strong reputation and have ranked among the some of the best in the United States regarding high test scores and college prep programs.
Outside of school and work, the area has plenty of recreational opportunities, including hiking and camping in the nearby Santa Ana Mountains, as well as easy access to the Cleveland National Forest.
Chula Vista. Living in Chula Vista has been described as being on “permanent vacation” because of its location on the San Diego Bay just minutes from the Pacific Ocean. Chula Vista, which has a population of more than 250,000 isn’t a small city, but it’s also diverse and has a variety of housing and neighborhood options.
North Chula Vista has a reputation for being one of the most economically and culturally diverse neighborhoods in the country and offers home prices below the regional average. And the region’s beautiful weather allows families to spend plenty of time outdoors.
Sunnyvale. Located in Silicon Valley, there’s more to Sunnyvale than high-tech jobs. Living costs – as well as wages – are above the national average but the costs are worth it when it comes to raising a family because the city’s crime rates are among the lowest in the U.S.
Sunnyvale’s schools rank high nationally for test scores while one of the nation’s largest children’s museums is in nearby San Jose. Children will also find plenty to do outside of the classroom thanks to Sunnyvale’s 476 acres of parks and playgrounds.
Palo Alto. While it’s not cheap to live in Palo Alto, the adage “You get what you pay for” certainly applies. The city offers a vast array of amenities for children and has one of top-rated school districts in the country.
The Palo Alto Unified School District also offers continuing education classes in many areas of study through its Palo Alto Adult School. Palo Alto is also home to nationally-renowned Stanford University – sometimes referred to as “Harvard of the West.”
While California’s list of great, family-friendly cities is long, the above communities are definitely ones to consider if you’re thinking about relocating your family.