Best Places to Live in California (2026) (2026)

Oakland is the #1 ranked city in California with 63.90 (livability score). This ranking includes 8 California cities with available data.

#1
Oakland
63.90
Pop. 438,072
#2
Sacramento
55.70
Pop. 524,802
#3
San Jose
55.00
Pop. 990,054
#4
Los Angeles
54.30
Pop. 3,857,897
#5
Fresno
50.00
Pop. 543,615
#6
San Francisco
46.10
Pop. 836,321
#7
Anaheim
42.50
Pop. 344,553
#8
San Diego
31.10
Pop. 1,385,061
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All 8 Cities Ranked

Source: Multiple Sources
#CityPopulationLivability Score
1Oakland438,07263.90
2Sacramento524,80255.70
3San Jose990,05455.00
4Los Angeles3,857,89754.30
5Fresno543,61550.00
6San Francisco836,32146.10
7Anaheim344,55342.50
8San Diego1,385,06131.10

Methodology

Cities in California are ranked by livability score. Only cities with populations above 1,000 are included. Data sourced from Multiple Sources. Last updated 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the #1 best places to live in california (2026)?
Oakland ranks #1 with 63.90 (livability score).
What are the top 5 best places to live in california (2026)?
1. Oakland (63.90), 2. Sacramento (55.70), 3. San Jose (55.00), 4. Los Angeles (54.30), 5. Fresno (50.00)
How many cities in California are ranked?
This ranking includes 8 cities in California with available data.

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