10 Best Towns In California For Retirees
Many of these California towns offer housing prices below the state's median listing price of $736,467, along with amenities well suited to retirees. Towns like Clearlake provide ample opportunities to get out and enjoy nature with hiking and fishing. Laguna Woods is a major retirement hub with a pristine golf course and plenty of social opportunities for seniors. And towns like Twentynine Palms give retirees a chance to stargaze in a desert. No matter what you’re hoping to do in your retirement, these ten California towns are sure to provide a comfortable experience.
Susanville
Susanville, California, is a small town that has undergone many transformations over the years. Near the Sierra Nevada mountains, Susanville was once a logging town that has become a popular retirement destination for those who enjoy art and the outdoors. Two theaters give the town much of its character. The Sierra Theater is a beautiful theater that harkens back to the past, offering more kid-friendly entertainment for your grandchildren. The Uptown Cinemas on Main Street offers new films and serves beer and wine for a fun day out at the movies.
But the town isn’t always quiet, as June sees the annual Susanville Bluegrass Festival take over the town. This three-day festival has some of the best names in bluegrass music coming to town at the Lassen County Fairgrounds, as well as Locals Night BBQ and a music camp. You’ll have a front row seat to when you retire to Susanville, and it all comes with affordability, as the median home list price is $218,117.
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is an excellent retirement destination for those who want to see the Pacific Ocean without fighting the crowds. This small town is quiet most of the year, but it has a lot to offer those who choose to retire here. The most famous attraction of Fort Bragg is Glass Beach, a beach covered in discarded glass that draws tourists. Just north of town, MacKerricher State Park stretches along nine miles of coastline, with walking trails, secluded beaches, and some of the best opportunities on the Mendocino Coast to spot harbor seals and migrating gray whales.
But the beach isn’t the only famous part of Fort Bragg. The Skunk Train offers a chance to take a trip back to the past while riding a historic locomotive. The line takes you through beautiful old-growth redwood groves to witness vistas that haven’t changed much in 100 years. Fort Bragg has a thriving retirement community, and many meet at Redwood Coast Seniors, which offers regular meals and social activities for seniors. Activities include Chair Yoga, Ping Pong, Poetry Group, and Quilter Group, rotating throughout the week.
Ukiah
Ukiah is a small town at an affordable price that doesn’t require you to give up the comforts of living in California. The town is about an hour from the Pacific Ocean, making it easy to reach. But the town itself has numerous nearby parks and forests, making it perfect for those who want to get outside and experience the beauty of the Golden State. Nearby Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve spans over 1,300 acres, giving retirees a chance to head out on two miles of the Montgomery Trail through gorgeous countryside to remain active in retirement. And pickleball players will be happy to have a chance to join a league and play at the Oak Manor Park throughout the summer months.
Retiring to Ukiah also gives you access to one of the best medical facilities in the area, Adventist Health Ukiah Valley. The hospital offers the kind of expansive care you’d expect from a big city in a small town, with emergency care, surgical services, and an ICU. Moreover, the town has a median list price of $596,167, which is well below the state median.
Clearlake
When you picture sitting by the beach in retirement in California, your mind probably pictures the Pacific Ocean. But in Clearlake, you can spend time on the beautiful beaches of the lake that gives the town its name. Clear Lake is a beautiful body of water full of fish, including largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish, making it an enticing retirement community for anglers. There are also beaches around the lake for lazy days in the sun.
Summers are when Clearlake comes alive during the annual Redbud Parade & Festival in July. Take the grandchildren to see their faces light up as they ride carnival rides while you enjoy delicious food and the iconic car show. Clearlake residents also have easy access to Adventist Health Clear Lake, a local hospital with 25 beds and specialty services such as cardiology and emergency medicine. And all of this comes at an affordable price, with a median home list price of $266,000, well below the state’s median of $736,467.
South Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe stands as one of the most beautiful and famous lakes in all of the United States, so why not enjoy your retirement living on its shores? South Lake Tahoe is a beautiful town that sits right on the border with Nevada. When you’re not spending time on the lake, there’s still plenty to do in South Lake Tahoe, like visit the 700+ acre Van Sickle Bi-State Park. In the park, you’ll find hiking trails and picnic areas to help you stay active in retirement. Anglers will have a chance to catch rainbow trout at the Tahoe Trout Farm. Bring the grandchildren to teach them the joys of fishing and catch yourself a delicious meal at the same time.
Nobody does the Fourth of July quite like South Lake Tahoe. The annual Lights on the Lake Fireworks is one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in the West and has been ranked among the country's top displays. Crowds gather along the shoreline at Lakeview Commons, El Dorado Beach, and Nevada Beach to watch the show reflect across the lake after sunset. This all comes at a price: the median listing price is $751,317, about $15,000 above the state median.
Laguna Woods
Laguna Woods is one of California’s premier retirement communities, with much of the town dedicated to Laguna Woods Village, where retirees live. The town is almost like a resort, with plenty of amenities and activities that are sure to make every day of your retirement feel like a vacation. It also has a median listing price of $436,100, about $300,000 below the state median.
The Laguna Woods Village Golf Course offers 27 holes of championship golf, a driving range, and discounted rates for members. If bowling is your game, Lucky Strike Aliso Viejo offers leagues and season passes for affordable bowling and a chance to meet fellow retirees. For more opportunities to meet your friends and neighbors, the Laguna Woods Village Community Center hosts frequent events and features a fitness center and eight table tennis tables.
Twentynine Palms
Want to live near beautiful Joshua Tree National Park but don’t want to break the bank? Look no further than Twentynine Palms. The town sits at an entry point for the park and is quite affordable for retirees, with a median home list price of $276,333. Twentynine Palms is an excellent choice for retirees who want to enjoy desert life, as it lies in the Mojave Desert.
Joshua Tree National Park is the primary landmark, offering nearly 800,000 acres of desert landscape for active seniors. The park has camping areas, nature walks like Hidden Valley, and over 250 bird species. In addition to Joshua Tree, there is plenty to keep you occupied during retirement in town. The desert environment provides unique opportunities at Sky’s the Limit, an observatory that offers stargazing sessions in an area with little light pollution. And for art lovers, the 29 Palms Art Gallery is ideal for escaping the sun and admiring paintings and sculptures by local artists in a beautiful setting.
Crescent City
Crescent City is off the radar for many retirees, but they’re missing out on one of the best places California has to offer. The small town is right next to the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, home to some of the world's largest trees and around 10,000 acres of old-growth redwood forest. Why not spend your free time hiking its nearly 20 miles of trails, camping out in a cabin, and seeing redwoods that can soar more than 300 feet above the forest floor?
For seniors interested in local history, the Battery Point Light and Museum stands as a fascinating attraction. Built in 1856, it is one of California's oldest lighthouses and can only be reached on foot at low tide, adding to its appeal. The Del Norte Senior Center is one of the finest in the county, serving weekday lunches to seniors and hosting activities such as bingo, exercise classes, art classes, health clinics, and legal services. For seniors looking to buy a home, the median list price is $455,500, making it a budget-friendly place to settle down.
Eureka
If you’re looking for your retirement home, “eureka,” you’ve found it. Eureka sits on Humboldt Bay and is big enough that there’s always something to do, but small enough to provide a quiet retirement. One of the best examples of Eureka's charm is the Ingomar Club. Many retirees choose to join this club and enjoy the pristine Victorian-style architecture during club members' social gatherings. Seniors are also attracted to the housing market in Eureka, as the median listing price is $468,000.
Eureka is also near Sequoia Park, complete with 60 acres of trails to see beautiful redwoods and spend an active day in nature. The park also has a zoo, home to a large garden, over 200 vertebrates, and dozens of other animals, including California quails, Golden pheasants, scarlet ibises, and spider monkeys. History lovers will also find a lot to see in Eureka, especially the Clarke Historical Museum. The building is a former bank and now hosts several exhibits on the history of Humboldt County and the town of Eureka.
McCloud
Looking for a small town to enjoy retirement in? In California, you’ll find fewer small communities than McCloud, with a population of fewer than 1,000 people. The peace of this town offers a slower-paced, relaxing retirement that still offers plenty to do. The most unique part of McCloud is its annual Lumberjack Fiesta Days in July. The weekend event has lumberjack games, softball, live music, and vendors. There is also a parade on Saturday of the event, where the community comes together for a fun day out.
Outside of festival week, there’s still plenty to do in McCloud. The McCloud Golf Club is an excellent course that offers unlimited golf for members. The challenging nine-hole course offers a beautiful view of Mount Shasta and a chance to improve your game. For history lovers who want to get a better sense of the town they’ve put down roots in, the McCloud Heritage Junction Museum showcases unique items and exhibits, such as a giant Corliss steam engine that once powered the McCloud sawmill.
A Sunny Retirement in California
Whether you picture your retirement including sitting by the ocean, exploring the desert, heading to annual festivals, or enjoying vibrant art and culture, California has something for you. Some communities offer easy access to redwood forests and Pacific beaches, while others provide golf courses, stargazing opportunities, or active senior programs. With home prices below the state median and plenty of local attractions, these towns prove that a comfortable California retirement does not have to come with an overwhelming price tag. So when you’re planning where to put down roots in the Golden State, consider any of these wonderful ten towns.
