9 Best Places to Live in California's Sierra Nevada in 2024
Sierra Nevada is one of the United States' major mountain ranges, spanning 250 miles across California and Nevada. The range has a rich history, shifting from a prevalent mining industry to a tourism hub over the last two decades. The range spans five distinct vegetational regions on the Western (Californian) side of the range, with great variances in altitude, offering diverse regions to call home. Municipalities vary in size and character but run significantly smaller on average than coastal Californian cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, with most offering small-town and rural atmospheres. Regardless of what you're looking for in a home surrounded by mountains, the Californian Sierra will oblige!
Truckee
Beginning with one of the larger by-population towns on this list, Truckee is located in Nevada County, slightly north of Lake Tahoe. The town is over 150 years old, with a population of just under 17,000. The town's motto, known as "The Truckee Way," includes clear priorities; no surprises; community outreach, involvement, and transparency, and non-adversarial decision-making. Truckee is known for its outdoor spaces including over twenty-six miles of paved trails and well-established bike paths. The town is also home to nine schools, the Tahoe Forest Hospital and the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, as well as a small airport servicing airmail and emergencies. Truckee is also constantly working on improving and preserving its historical and natural heritage and is particularly dedicated to sustainability. Between the tight-knit community, ever-evolving infrastructure, and strong relationships with the natural environment make it a welcoming rural town to relocate to without sacrificing access to necessary amenities and recreational services.
South Lake Tahoe
It is likely the most famous town in California's Sierra Nevada, the renowned South Lake Tahoe. Named after the lake it sits on, this town is a popular tourist destination for all-year outdoor fun, meaning countless amenities are available to satisfy any of your cravings or interests in your hometown. From countless spas, restaurants, hotels, ski hills, hikes, and swimming spots, there is always something happening in South Lake Tahoe to keep you busy and entertained. South Lake Tahoe is home to eight schools and the Barton Memorial Hospital. Although this city is only home to 20,000 people, the high density of tourism means that the town always feels bigger, with new faces constantly coming and going.
Bishop
As a self-proclaimed "family-oriented" community, Bishop is a small-business haven where folks can find the ideal place for their craft, work, or service. Bishop is home to under 4,000 inhabitants, with a small but bustling downtown and a regional airport (BIH) offering United flights from San Francisco and Denver. With easy access to these two major cities, Bishop is a prime location in the woods, giving you the best of rural living with the commute time of the suburbs. Bishop is home to an elementary, middle, and high school, as well as an alternative education center and the Northern Inyo Hospital, servicing the region. Whether you're a horseback rider, interested in exploring hot springs, or looking to rock climb in the backwoods, Bishop's backyard is an incredible gem to move to.
Lone Pine
Located in Inyo County and at the base of Mount Whitney, a mountain that reaches 14,505 feet above sea level, this 2,000-person Sierra Nevada town is a magical place to call home. The town is situated in the Owens Valley and is surrounded by mountains, offering one of California's more unique landscapes at your doorstep. This town is a drive from some of the United States's most iconic landscapes, including Death Valley and the Alabama Hills. Lone Pine is home to an elementary and high school as well as the Southern Inyo Hospital, servicing the region. Despite the town's small size, it offers all the necessary services. Also, it offers several retail, dining, and entertainment options such as the Museum of Western Film History and the Mount Whitney Golf Course.
Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella, named after the Isabella Reservoir, is located within both the majestic Sierra Nevada and the Sequoia National Forest. The town is accessible from Los Angeles and Bakersfield by car, encouraging considerable tourism year-round. Lake Isabella is a census-designated place in Kern County with a population under 4,000. The town is home to an elementary, middle, and high school and is a short, 15-minute drive from the nearest hospital. The town is a great location to consider living in if you are keen on fishing, water sports, or backwoods camping or if you want to live in the woods with reasonably easy access to the big city!
Ridgecrest
Also located in Kern County, Ridgecrest is the only incorporated community located within the Indian Wells Valley, a mountain desert town. The town was established in 1963 to support the array of farmers and homesteaders spread throughout the region. Ridgecrest may be your best choice if you are looking for a town full of community services, events, and resources. The town's school district is diverse, with eleven schools, a community college, and the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. Some of their ongoing, community-led events include the Farmer's Market, City Nights Series and A Night on Balsam, where the downtown comes alive at night and an annual city tree lighting in December each year. Rooted in tradition, this town will quickly feel like home.
Independence
Also located in Inyo County, Independence is located within the Inyo National Forest and is home to a significant volume of historic buildings. Like much of the rest of the Sierra Nevada, Independence is primely situated for hiking, fishing, and hunting. Independence is home to an elementary and high school, but the nearest hospitals are in Bishop and Lone Pine. It is also important to note that Independence is home to under 800 people and there is only one grocery store in town, so this is not ideal for folks that need more variety. Although there are fewer services available, you are truly embedded in nature when you are in Independence.
Furnace Creek
A four-hour drive from Los Angeles and two hours from Las Vegas within Death Valley and the Sierra Nevada, Furnace Creek is a tiny oasis home to under 100 people. The town is home to the Furnace Creek Campground, a handful of restaurants, a general store, a gas station, a few small hotels, and the Borax Museum Furnace Creek servicing the residents and visitors to the campgrounds. It is important to note that many schools average around 45 miles from town, though Death Valley Elementary is 6.3 miles away in Death Valley, California. The nearest in-state hospital is nearly a two-hour drive away, with closer healthcare available within an hour's drive when crossing the border into Nevada. Furnace Creek is a fairly remote community to live in, but it is well worth it if you want to be engrained in the mountainous desert.
Volcano
The village of Volcano is home to under 100 residents but used to house over 10,000 during the gold rush. Today, the village boasts two historic hotels, shops, restaurants, and a theatre company. The hamlet is known for its rich mining history and has prevailed since the gold rush, unlike other sister communities that became ghost towns. There are no schools or medical centers in Volcano. Still, several lie in surrounding towns within a 10-mile radius, making this remote, small community more accessible than comparable towns such as Furnace Creek. Volcano is a great valley choice for those looking for a charming place to live, with the bonus of being close to the backwoods and mountains.
Regardless of where you choose to live, the Sierra Nevada offers distinct ecological and sociological regions to choose from. Whether you are looking to move to a small, isolated community in the desert or backwoods, or you are looking for a bigger community within an afternoon's drive to the coast, you are certain to find the right balance within California's boundaries that will suit you and your family's needs and desires to make your humble abode!
