8 Friendly Towns To Retire In California
If happiness is associated with the aesthetic quality of the surrounding landscape, Californians are certainly the happiest folks on earth. And, of course, happy people will invariably be friendly. You can’t be near palm trees, swinging hammocks, craggy mountaintops, snow-white beaches, and an exuberant sea, without it rubbing on your temper and attitude. Add these to fun-filled seasonal festivals that bring the community together, theatres that present Broadway-level shows, and a culture with a tradition of openness and authentic geniality. You will stumble upon some of America’s friendliest communities, just what every empty nester yearns to be part of. Still, it’s never a uniform score. So, starting with Ukiah, discover eight friendly towns in California where you can retire.
Ukiah
With the world’s largest ocean just about an hour to the west, and Lake Mendocino just a heartbeat away, Ukiah presents an almost irresistible outdoor landscape. Ukiah Country PumpkinFest, one of the largest street fairs in the county, brings the community together to celebrate the spirit and fun of pumpkins in Ukiah, featuring food, a pet costume contest, interactive rides, and a baking contest. Places like The Ukiah Players Theatre, with its comfortable seating and intimate setting, ensure that even ardent homebodies have no excuse for brooding indoors.
If you are worried about healthcare access, Adventist Health Ukiah Valley was recently recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with a five-star rating for quality care, the highest possible award. Meanwhile, the Ukiah Senior Center, which offers delicious meals and a variety of other free amenities, is a fantastic place to meet new people and expand one's social circle. For those on a budget, the median home value in Ukiah is around $470,000 as of November 2025, far below the state average of $750,000.
Susanville
If you think Susanville is grabbing attention in retirement circles only because it is affordable, we have news for you. Susanville is small enough to offer hometown comfort but large enough to cater to the community's basic needs. Folks are friendly and helpful, and often rally together when there’s an emergency. Margie's Book Nook has a wide selection of books that it is easy to get lost in all they have to offer. And the staff are always welcoming and friendly.
Known as the “Gateway to Lassen Volcanic National Park,” Susanville is a hub of activity, especially with places like the Sierra Theater, a fun place to watch a movie with friends, and the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail - Susanville Trailhead, a moderate hike with few difficult spots. There’s the Banner Lassen Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital offering outstanding care, as well as several events, including the Lassen County Fair, which features thrilling rides, live entertainment, livestock shows, and plenty of fun for the whole family.
Oroville
Think of a place where almost every morning starts with the hum of cicadas and the scent of pine and dry grass drifting through the dewy air. Life is sweet and slow. The community is tight-knit; everyone knows everyone. Although not glitzy or glamorous, there's a deep kind of peace in watching the seasons shift across the hills, and in the way the stars seem close enough to touch at night. That’s Oroville. From Feather Fiesta Days, which celebrates the Feather River and the area’s Gold Rush history, to Oroville State Theatre, built in the 1920s by renowned California architect Timothy Pflueger, retirement here is an endless round of fun.
There’s Oroville Hospital, a general medical and surgical hospital with 133 beds, and the nearby Enloe Health Medical Center, named one of America's 250 Best Hospitals for clinical excellence by Healthgrades for four consecutive years. The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a breathtaking place with a variety of beautiful wildflowers. Add on a median home value of around $300,000, and retirees rejoice in Oroville.
Los Banos
Palm trees, lots of sunshine, and an eye-catching red arch that serves as a beautiful gateway sign to the historic downtown area are some of the most conspicuous features of Los Banos. Secreted in the heart of California’s fertile Central Valley, this California jewel offers affordable living with actual amenities, and the best part is that you don’t have to be a tech mogul to keep afloat. Annual Los Banos Tomato Festival, now in its 11th year, features a Cornhole Tournament, live music, a Beer Garden, food, and a car show presented by the Westside Auto Club. The Los Banos Arts Council consistently organizes music concerts, art exhibitions, photography shows, and various forms of entertainment, primarily at the Ted Falasco Arts Center.
Sutter Memorial Hospital Los Banos is conveniently located and has recently earned the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from Get With The Guidelines, the highest level of recognition possible. Still, you can also opt for the nearby Mercy Medical Center Merced, a major regional hospital with comprehensive specialties. Pacheco State Park, with its peaceful hiking paths, is a wink away, as is the trout-filled San Luis Reservoir.
Placerville
We all have strong opinions about where to retire. Still, it’s probably not wise to overlook a town that doubles up as a hub for El Dorado wine country, and that is speckled by boutique tasting rooms like Lava Cap, a third-generation family farm high in the Sierra Nevada foothills above Placerville. The El Dorado County Fair, which carries echoes of Placerville's Gold Rush years, celebrates pioneer traditions and agricultural heritage through fun-filled rides, delicious food, and live music. Homes near the activity are also easy to purchase, with the median home value hovering at around $516,000
Keep in mind that El Dorado County has three Senior Centers, including the Placerville Senior Center, all of which offer various programs (including socialization activities) designed to enhance retirees’ quality of life. Marshall Hospital, El Dorado County's largest healthcare provider for over 60 years, has previously been recognized with the Outstanding Patient Experience Award. If you want to be in killer shape, Red Shack Trailhead is an amazing workout full of incredible switchbacks.
Lindsay
A tight-knit community with breathtaking landscapes, Lindsay is a fun place to live and retire, especially because there always seems to be something going on in the community, whether at the Lindsay Community Theatre, which styles itself as the Biggest Little Theatre in Central California, Lindsay City Park, a safe place for grandkids to play and get tired, or McDermont X, a family-friendly entertainment center with a full arcade and a rock-climbing area.
Although you can get basic healthcare services in town, you can dash to the nearby Sierra View Medical Center, recently named a Gold Winner in three categories in the Best of Central California People’s Choice Awards. These include Best Hospital, Best Surgery Center, and Best Cancer Treatment Center. There’s the Lindsay Wellness Center, a fun place for aerobics and other physical exercises, and the Orange Blossom Festival and Parade, a grand showcase of Lindsay's citrus varieties, with a roaring emphasis on oranges. Lake Success, down the road near Porterville, is a well-known angler’s paradise.
Sonora
If you want to know that Sonora is a friendly place to retire and that it has an epic cultural scene, especially for a town of its size, spend your afternoons at The Armory. This community gathering place doubles up as a restaurant whipping up killer dishes, a live-music venue, a Beer Garden, and an events centre. From line dancing to hearty meals on the patio to casual, party-like atmosphere, this is always where to feel Sonora’s pulse.
There’s the three-mile Dragoon Gulch Trail, if you want to keep your muscles well-toned, the Spring Festival and Celtic Fair, which celebrates the immigrants who shaped the region’s cultural identity, and 2nd Saturday Art Night, which takes place each month from June through October and features interesting art shows and musical performances. You can occasionally mill around the Tuolumne County Museum, especially if you are a history nerd, or pass by Adventist Health Sonora for any spontaneous medical check-up. All this is available on a budget thanks to the affordable median housing value of $400,000.
Palm Springs
You can’t find gloomy people in an area with over 100 golf courses, a feature that makes Palm Springs one of the premier golf destinations on the continent. The world-class courses, many of which were designed by legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, and Greg Norman, cater to nearly every skill level. From Indian Canyons Golf Resort to Eagle Falls Golf Course, both of which offer criminally beautiful views, an avid golfer here will be spoiled for choice. The Palm Springs International Film Festival, one of the most iconic film festivals on the planet, comes to town every year in January.
A few weeks later, hordes of country music fans attend the nearby Stagecoach Country Music Festival, which typically electrifies the town every year in April. A show at the Festival Theaters Palm Springs is a great way to beat the heat and a creative way to experience an unforgettable afternoon. In terms of healthcare access, Desert Regional Medical Center is a major local medical facility offering emergency and specialty services. It recently received a Gold Plus Stroke Achievement Award, part of the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines program.
Retire Amongst Friends In These California Towns
So, while a retiree may focus on affordability, available amenities, and recreational opportunities, nothing beats a community where everyone has your back. If anything, how you feel is way more important than the shimmering lakes that you wake up to every morning or the austere grandeur of an ice-capped mountain. You don’t want a place where people avoid you or where you wear the “stranger” tag forever. The good news is that Californians are some of the warmest and down-to-earth people on the continent.
