The Top 5 Cities In California To Maximize Your Retirement

LouisHorkan

By Louis Horkan
Reviewed by Nathan Kattner

Table Of Contents

    When it comes to selecting where you will spend your retirement years, the US offers many incredible options. Whether traveling south to the Sunshine State or heading northeast for the mountains, one popular option for many retirees is a state on the west coast that offers a wide variety of food, activity and fun.

    California. Home of stunning beaches, rugged mountains, towering redwood forests, captivating cities, gorgeous vineyards, and remarkable deserts. Arguably one of the most beautiful states in the US, California is most certainly the crown jewel of the west.

    Some retirees might consider ruling out California for retirement due to their higher taxes and cost of living – but you simply cannot overlook the plentiful options for what retirement could look like in California.

    Fortunately, we are going to share with five cities in California that are great options to consider based on your retirement budget.

    Sacramento, California

    Sacramento is the largest city we will look at and a great option for retirees that still want that bigger city feel. Sacramento is the capital of California that sits at the confluence of the Sacramento River and American River.

    This city has a rich history dating back to the city’s Gold Rush time period and boasts many museums displaying the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad. 

     

     

    Cost of Living

    Sacramento’s cost of living is only 17% above the national average, making it cost effective considering the higher expenses of other large cities in California. Average home values are around $500,000 with plenty of retirement communities to consider.

    Size & Accessibility

    Sacramento’s population is around 524,000 residents and is one of the northern cities in our list of retirement cities to consider. Sacramento has a significant presence of 60+ retirees with 21% of the population in this age category. Only two hours from San Francisco’s beaches or to Lake Tahoe further inland, this is a great location with its own international airport making both domestic and international travel very convenient.

    Weather

    The weather in Sacramento provides hot, dry summers and clear winters that are typically short, cold, wet and cloudy. Throughout the year, temperatures vary from 39°F to 94°F and is rarely below 31°F or above 102°F

    Culture & Activities

    Sacramento is full of many adult communities with a unique urban setting. Not only does Sacramento have access to great river recreation, it’s rich history provides opportunities to connect with a city with deep roots in the west.

    There are many activities for retirees to enjoy. If you enjoy productions and plays, frequently attending the B-Street Theater is a great option. Paired with the modern and vintage architecture throughout the city, the Old Sugar Mill is a site to visit often to taste the many flavors of California wines.

    This also includes exploring unique bars and restaurants sprinkled throughout this historic city. Sacramento is rich with nature and natural wonders that allows retirees to stay active.

    A visit to William Land Regional Park or California State Park allows for beautiful walks through greenspace, stunning landscaping, and even monument gardens. And for those sports fans, this city is home to the Sacramento Kings NBA basketball team and many minor league teams playing tennis, soccer and football.

    Riverside, California

    Riverside is a fairly large metropolitan area of California located inland in the southern part of the state founded in the 1870s. The origin of its name comes from being located directly beside the Santa Ana River and part of the Greater Los Angeles area. Riverside is the birthplace of the California citrus industry and is home to the last two original navel orange trees in California.

     

     

    Cost of Living

    Riverside’s cost of living is 21% above the national average, which is slightly higher than Sacramento, but still reasonable for maximizing your retirement years. Average home values are around $624,000, which could be a barrier for some depending on the retirement savings to go towards housing. Riverside has quite a few retirement communities to consider and a great way to consider staying connected with others in this beautiful city.

    Size & Accessibility

    Riverside’s population is around 314,000 residents and the 12th largest in California allowing you to still take advantage of many activities and fun. Only one hour from Los Angeles, this city allows you not to fight the big city traffic every day, yet take advantage of all the entertainment Los Angeles offers with a short drive across Highway 60.

    Weather

    The weather in Riverside provides hot, dry and clear summers and winters are cool and cloudy. Throughout the year, temperatures vary from 43°F to 94°F and is rarely below 36°F or above 103°F

    Culture & Activities

    The culture of Riverside allows for retirees to stay active with a mix of eclectic restaurants and coffee houses, and a wide range of museums and festivals to attend each year. Shopping in Riverside is rich with boutique shops and national retailers. When it comes to the great outdoors, Riverside has historic trails and beautiful mountains as the backdrop.

    Downtown Riverside will keep retirees engaged with unique buildings and attractions like the Fox Performing Arts Center, Riverside Municipal Auditorium and Riverside Art Museum. Events throughout the year range from air shows to film festivals to light festivals.

    Salinas, California

    Salinas is located in central California in the Monterey Bay Area, just two hours south of San Francisco. The city’s name comes from being in close proximity from the Salinas River that runs northwest and eventually meets with the Pacific Ocean.

    The city is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” for its massive and rich agriculture industry.

    Because of the marine climate, Salinas is the perfect spot for floral, grape vineyards and large vegetable gardens. And this weather makes it very attractive for retirees to enjoy the outdoors.

    Cost of Living

    Salinas cost of living is 17% above the national average, making it very cost effective for retirement. Average home values are around $714,000, which is higher than both of our previous cities – so the overall nest egg will determine what might be possible. Salinas has fewer retirement communities to consider, but still great options with independent living at its best in this city.

    Size & Accessibility

    Salinas is a medium sized city in our lineup with a population of around 163,000 residents with 18% of the population being 60 or older. This city is only two hours from San Francisco making it easy for air travel and just a short drive to the beach.

    Weather

    The weather in Salinas provides shorter, dry summers and winters that are cold and wet. Throughout the year, temperatures vary from 42°F to 72°F and are rarely below 34°F or above 84°F. Being located in the Salinas valley and only 8 miles from the Pacific ocean, the cooler weather is impacted by the ocean more than the inland temperatures.

    Culture & Activities

    Salinas boasts some great activities for retirees throughout the year including entertainment like the California International Air Show, California Rodeo Salinas, and the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Additionally, this city offers rolling farmland with the backdrop of the mountains and the ocean nearby.

    This might mean taking advantage of the Monterey Bay Aquarium or enjoying the Ventana Wilderness or Pinnacles National Parks to stay active outdoors. Regardless of the speed of your retirement, Salinas gives you plenty of options to choose from!

    Santa Rosa, California

    Santa Rosa is located in northern California and is in the wine region of California with nearby cities of Sonoma and Napa. This city allows retirees to discover California in an incredible way with everything from handcrafted culture, microbrews, fairs, cycling and adventure both conventional and beyond.

     

     

    Cost of Living

    Santa Rosa cost of living is 36% above the national average, which is one of our higher cities being considered. Average home values are around $714,000, which could be a barrier depending on retirement savings. Santa Rosa has a few retirement communities to consider and several others communities in nearby cities to check out.

    Size & Accessibility

    Santa Rosa is a medium sized city in our lineup with a population of around 178,000 residents and 25% of the population being 60 or older – making it very attractive to plug into a community of retirees. This city is also just one hour from San Francisco making international travel convenient and less than an hour to the beach.

    Weather

    The weather in Santa Rosa provides long and warm summers and short winters that are cold and wet. Throughout the year, temperatures vary from 37°F to 84°F and are rarely below 28°F or above 96°F.

    Culture & Activities

    Santa Rosa provides a rich experience of both indoor, outdoor and unique festivals that make living in this city fun for retirees. This city puts on display exceptional antique shops, coffee houses and restaurants – with a visit to the Historic Railroad Square. Spend time exploring the Sonoma Serengeti Safari or the rugged Sonoma coast to watch waves roll in.

    One well known part of Santa Rosa is the Luther Burbank Center of Performing Arts with world-class performance in music, theater, dance, comedy and more. And you cannot forget about the 805 acres of redwoods to enjoy picnics, hiking trails and even horseback riding.

    Santa Barbara, California

    Santa Barbara’s location between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean makes this a very desirable city to retire in. The Mediterranean climate and quick access to the coast line gives retirees much to look forward to in this city.

    Cost of Living

    Santa Barbara’s cost of living is 47% above the national average, which is our most expensive option to consider, but this city rates high due to the overall quality of retirement in this community. Average home values are around $1,750,000, which is very expensive for most retirement budgets. Santa Barbara has several beautiful retirement communities to consider being a part that may be a more cost effective option, but still allowing you to enjoy all the city has to offer.

    Size & Accessibility

    Santa Barbara is a smaller sized city in California with a population of around 88,000 residents and 20% of the population being 60 or older. This city is two hours from Los Angeles making international travel a breeze and quick access to may other neighboring cities to explore.

    Weather

    The weather in Santa Barbara provides warm and clear summers and winters that are cold and wet. Throughout the year, temperatures vary from 42°F to 77°F and are rarely below 35°F or above 84°F.

    Culture & Activities

    Santa Barbara has a unique culture allowing you to go at the pace you desire. Whether relaxing on the beach, visiting the city’s vibrant boutique shops or tasting California wines, you get to choose your speed! Being located right on the coast makes direct access to immaculate beaches convenient.

    Additionally, the small hub municipal airport allows for quick travel out of the city or jumping on an Amtrak from to visit San Diego.

    If you love hitting the road to travel and desire to explore the coastline of California, you can jump on US Highway 101 to traverse the coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

    Staying active outdoors is simple for residents of Santa Barbara with the Los Padres National Forest and Channel Islands National Park. And don’t forget about the numerous art galleries, museums and performing arts centers to enjoy – it’s a fantastic city to experience in your retirement years.

    In summary, California has many great cities for all types of budgets to consider when choosing the location of your retirement years.

    From weather to activities to culture to beaches or even mountains – California has it all!

     

    Summary
    Article Name
    The Top 5 Cities In California To Maximize Your Retirement
    Description
    When it comes to selecting where you will spend your retirement years, the US offers many incredible options. Whether traveling south to the Sunshine State or heading northeast for the mountains, one popular option for many retirees is a state on the west coast that offers a wide variety of food, activity and fun. California. Home of stunning beaches, rugged mountains, towering redwood forests, captivating cities, gorgeous vineyards, and remarkable deserts. Arguably one of the most beautiful states in the US, California is most certainly the crown jewel of the west.
    Publisher Name
    Oak Harvest Financial Group
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