9 Best Places To Call Home In Northern California In 2025

One of the biggest selling points of California is the big city charms, the world-famous landmarks, and its global cultural influence at large, all blending together with amazing landscapes. The urban sprawl in the Golden State is fantastic, but those same characteristics can be applied to even the small towns dotting the area.

Sticking to Northern California and its diverse landscape, there are many destinations that can deliver a similar vibe to the bigger cities. Best of all, they can provide even more comfort for those looking to settle down, as the slow pace, natural beauty, and affordability make it an appealing option. Here are some small communities in NorCal for 2025 that can offer a refreshing and new take on living.

Eureka

While the town name is not that unique, Eureka in Northern California makes up for that by having multiple personalities mixed together. Median home listing prices are roughly $479,000 (according to Zillow), but Eureka has more to offer.

To start, Eureka is one of the largest coastal cities between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. Its port is still functional as well, with the sounds of logging trucks and fishing boats chugging along being all too common. In the case of the Madaket, between May and October, you can learn about local history while traveling through the shores of Humboldt Bay. If you prefer to see the coast on dry land, the Waterfront Trail stretches over 6 miles along the shoreline. With plenty of public art, interpretive signage, and resting spots, you can take in all that Eureka has to offer.

Ferndale

If you are a fan of Victorian-style homes, then you will love Ferndale. It sits between the California Redwoods and the Lost Coast, making it a visual beauty to explore. With the median home listing prices about $500,000, you are in for an enchanting experience.

The Ferndale Repertory Theater is one of the oldest and largest community theaters in NorCal. The community produces multiple main stage productions throughout the year in addition to special events that you don't want to miss. Another special treat is visiting the Mind's Eye Coffee Lounge, which provides a cozy mix of live acoustic music, a coffee shop vibe, and a maker's studio from 10am until noon and only on the last Sunday of the month. If you miss out on those opportunities, though, places like the Ferndale Museum can still share some fascinating aspects of Ferndale. Their love of history is obvious, considering their exhibits feature a working seismograph, natural history exhibits, antique farming and dairy equipment, among many other items.

Placerville

If you ever wanted to live in a more affordable town that benefited from the gold rush days, Placerville is a good option, with median home listing prices of about $658,000.

Placerville's Historic Downtown is a must with plenty of unique shops, fine art galleries, restaurants, and other things to do. One place of note is the Fountain-Tallman Museum, where you can learn about the history of "Old Hangtown" on your own or through a guided tour. A go-to spot for taking in the scenery is the Gold Bug Park & Mine, which isn't far from the Historic Main Street. Gold Bug Park has over 60 acres with picnic areas, trails, and even a spot where you can pan for gems. Lastly, a great local stop is the Apple Hill Growers, which has a mixture of bountiful goods all year round. Whether it is Christmas trees, apples, berries, or pumpkins, a visit to Apple Hill is a family favorite.

Guerneville

A rustic vibe, small-town charm, and a backdrop of vibrant nature are all apt descriptors of Guerneville. A welcoming getaway for the Bay Area LGBTQ+ community, the laid-back attitudes, and being in Sonoma Wine Country can provide good reasons to settle here. All of this is accentuated by median home listing prices at $570,000.

To capture the beauty of the area, the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is the place to go. With 805 acres of Coast Redwoods, the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is a great place to relax and reflect. If you have got a hankering for baked goods, Baked on the River offers an assortment of baked goods and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner too. Just outside of town, Sup Odyssey gives you the chance to paddleboard the Russian River, with lessons and rentals available.

Murphys

Not far from Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park rests another town filled with gold rush history, in Murphys. In addition to its natural beauty and thriving community, Murphys is also a more affordable place to live, with median home listing prices of approximately $526,000. Beyond that, the outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities make it perfect for those wanting a more active lifestyle.

In terms of those activities, there is naturally Yosemite National Park, which offers nearly 1,200 square miles for camping, exploring deep valleys and glaciers, and experiencing the wilderness. For something closer to home, the Forest Meadows Golf Course features a 9-hole course that is surrounded by giant pines, great oaks, and towering cedars. And if you are feeling really adventurous, the Moaning Caverns is great for the whole family. They have a simple 45-minute tour, which features a massive spiral staircase in the main chamber; however, they can plan a half-day expedition for adults and children over 12 if you reserve in advance.

Auburn

With a median home listing price of approximately $690,000, which is still lower than the state median of around $750,000, Auburn compensates for the cost in several ways. It is a historical mining town that rests at the foot of the Sierra foothills. In addition, Auburn boasts a vibrant creative scene, making it ideal for not only the outdoor adventurers but also creatives.

The American Canyon Trail is jam-packed with sights to snap pictures, birds to watch, and plenty of spots for painters and artists to practice their craft, or just to eat and relax. To get a piece of the local creative scene, Clay Arts Studio is a great spot to consider, offering ceramic classes.

Crescent City

Despite its smaller size, Crescent City is a coastal town with a variety of things to see and do. Beyond that, the median home listing prices are about $431,000. Surrounded by historic lighthouses, scenic beaches, and redwood forests, Crescent City is a NorCal gem you will want to experience.

Just a few minutes to the northeast of Crescent City, you will find the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, an area known for its dense old-growth forest and the picturesque look of the Smith River. If you prefer to stay more in town, the Crescent City Waterfront sells the coastal vibes hard. At Ocean World Aquarium, you will be able to see adorable sea lions performing tricks with visitors, or you can visit the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center. And if you are feeling hungry, the Rumiano's Cheese Factory will give you plenty of reasons to fall in love with North Coast cheese. The family-owned company offers free cheese tasting and sells its product at a reasonable price.

Downieville

For the outdoor enthusiast, you will be hard-pressed to find any place more enthusiastic about the outdoors than Downieville. With it being a mountain biking boomtown and hosting one of the top 10 bicycle festivals in the world, Downieville is built for biking and year-round outdoor activities like fly fishing, water rafting, kayaking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and more. This is on top of an average home value of about $300,000.

To start, Downieville's downtown area is surrounded by the gorgeous Sierra Nevada Mountains, and you have places like Two Rivers Café providing locals and visitors with good food, craft beers, and friendly service all year round. Within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you also have many natural paths and trails filled with their own scenic views. Downieville has many of these trails to offer, but one of particular note is the Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop, a seven-mile loop trail that offers enough challenge to take about 3 hours to complete.

And lastly, the Yuba Theatre is always buzzing with activity. The historic venue hosts the Banff Film Festival every spring, and they provide live plays, town-wide talent shows, community theater, and musical performances throughout the year. You can also visit the Yuba Gallery, which features the work of local and regional artists, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and mixed media.

Ukiah

For some of the most gorgeous scenery that will get you to slow down and take it all in, Ukiah is one of the best, with median home listing prices of about $564,000.

Ukiah as a whole is best described as the place where the redwoods meet the vineyards, as places like the Alta Orsa Winery provide beautiful mountainside vineyard tours, wine tasting, and a relaxing atmosphere. There is also the Mendocino National Forest, a 927,650-acre area filled with mountains, canyons, and foothills, ideal for backpacking, hiking, camping, boating, and fishing. Or if you want to get a taste of the town's culture, visit the nationally renowned Grace Hudson Museum and Sunhouse, prominently showing fine art, local history, and Pomo culture in honour of the work Grace Carpenter Hudson and her ethnologist husband, Dr. John W. Hudson, left behind.

Whether you want to explore Downieville's great outdoors, enjoy a coastal life in Eureka, or have a slice of Victorian living in Ferndale, Northern California has a lovely blend of small towns to settle in. Regardless of where you go, the untouched natural spaces, welcoming communities, and the slow-paced lifestyle make any of these spots worth living. All that is really left is picking a spot that speaks the most to you and seeing it for yourself.