12 Best Places To Live In Southern California In 2025

Southern California's combination of sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and diverse culture makes it an enticing proposition for anyone seeking to relocate to the Golden State. Although most people think about big cities like Los Angeles and Long Beach, the region offers several alternatives with a more affordable cost of living and less crowded streets. Whether you want to settle in a suburban community or a rural village, there are enough options for all types of lifestyles.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of options where you can find a safe environment to raise a family, outdoor opportunities to stay active, and ready access to health and social amenities to maintain a high quality of life. If you are shopping around for a nice place to call home, here are some of the best places to live in Southern California in 2025.

Julian

Julian is a small town in San Diego County with a vibrant apple industry, active wine-making culture, and abundant recreational opportunities. Residents have enough room to play in the great outdoors, thanks to the sprawling wilderness of William Heise County Park and Volcan Mountain County Preserve. With San Diego just about an hour from Julian, locals have easy access to the urban conveniences of the big city. For example, travel is easy thanks to the San Diego International Airport, which connects to various popular destinations.

Back in town, Julian's apple farms and production facilities provide jobs for many of its citizens. You also have access to multiple medical facilities, including Julian Medical Center, in case of emergencies. Julian is also cheaper than most areas in California; as of May 2025, its median home price was $590,000, which is much lower than the state average of $800,000.

Calimesa

Sitting approximately an hour outside of Los Angeles, Calimesa is a great alternative to the constant chaos that resides in the City of Angels. Calimesa enjoys a strong sense of community, and the townspeople often congregate inside the Calimesa Country Club Event Center for parties, weddings, and other celebrations. Families have enough options to have a wholesome experience, including playing games at Retrovolt Arcade. Calimesa is relatively affordable; it has a median housing cost of approximately $575,000.

The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District ensures high-quality education for the residents of Calimesa and the surrounding region. Major employers are in the financial, health, and aerospace industries, featuring national brands like Boeing and Wells Fargo within an hour’s drive.

Yucca Valley

Widely recognized for being a gateway to Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca Valley is an excellent town for those who embrace an outdoor lifestyle. Guests can readily engage in hiking activities with ready access to the Hi-View Trailhead while admiring picturesque views of the surrounding landscapes. The California Welcome Center offers incoming residents the ideal reception to the community by providing resourceful information on everything you need to know about the locality.

Yucca Valley is home to Airway Medical Center, so residents need not look too far for quality medical attention. Meanwhile, the Yucca Valley Community Center provides a gathering venue where the young and old in the town can meet for recreational and social activities. Finally, the local median price of $370,000 makes it easy for potential residents to invest in a home.

Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs is designed for those who prefer a sense of privacy in their lives. It is surrounded by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which offers great outdoor opportunities. Adventurous residents take advantage of desert trails like Hellhole Canyon Trail to discover the open spaces. The town also boasts a respectable arts scene, highlighted by the larger-than-life sculptures erected at Galleta Meadows and the collection of paintings and photographs inside the Borrego Art Institute.

In case of any health needs, residents can access quality services at Borrego Medical Clinic for all ages. Meanwhile, the Borrego Springs Youth and Senior Center plays an important role in advocating for the welfare of these two demographics in the community. Lastly, buying a home in the region costs about $370,000.

Wrightwood

Unlike the typical Southern California town, Wrightwood receives a considerable level of snow in the cold season, making it a unique place to call home. Its setting in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains opens doors to great outdoor activities, including playing golf at the Wrightwood Country Club. The Wrightwood Senior Center ensures the welfare of aging residents in the community is taken care of in their golden years.

Education is a major factor in town, managed by Snowline Joint Unified School District. As of 2025, there are six schools here, including the Snowline Adult School and the 9-12 Serrano High School. Finally, buying a home in Wrightwood costs around $450,000, a figure that many newcomers will appreciate.

Idyllwild

Idyllwild is a quiet mountain community surrounded by the picturesque peaks of the San Jacinto Mountains and thick forest cover. Potential residents can expect enough opportunities in the open spaces, such as hiking along the rugged Deer Springs Trailhead en route to the San Jacinto Peak. The Idyllwild Area Historical Society introduces you to the area's rich history. It exhibits a variety of artifacts and archives about communities domiciled around the San Jacinto Mountains region.

Townspeople enjoy an impressive sense of camaraderie thanks to social hubs like the Idyllwild Community Center, where all ages get to interact in a welcoming environment. It hosts events like soccer and basketball meets for adults, Wii Bowling for seniors, and an after-school workshop program for kids. The median household income in Idyllwild is about $500,000, allowing residents to comfortably invest in a new home.

Laguna Woods

Despite its relatively manageable cost of living, Laguna Woods enjoys a cozy atmosphere close to the California coast, putting it among the best places to live in Southern California in 2025. A decent home in the tiny city goes for around $470,000, almost half the state average. The community is within walking distance of the Laguna Beach coastline, promising ready access to the beach when you need to meditate. It is also a gateway to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, which provides a 7,000-acre playground for those who like to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

The primary health care provider in Laguna Woods is MedicalCare Group, which also serves neighboring communities like Laguna Beach and offers specialized services for the elderly. Meanwhile, the Laguna Beach Unified School District manages the school system and offers reliable elementary to high school options.

La Quinta

La Quinta is a charming resort town in the Coachella Valley, known for its overall safety, sunny days, and world-class golfing. It is a great place to be outside, and residents are assured of adequate recreational opportunities at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park. The community shows its appreciation for the arts by hosting the La Quinta Arts Celebration. This is an opportune moment for everyone to come together and strengthen local bonds. Furthermore, the Old Town La Quinta Certified Farmers Market ensures frequent social gatherings to sustain a strong sense of community.

Citizens can access urgent care for their medical emergencies at the Eisenhower Health Center. Despite being a little bit expensive, with a median home price of $750,000, La Quinta is still below the California average.

Seal Beach

If you envision yourself waking up to the soothing sounds of waves crashing against the shore, Seal Beach is a promising candidate for your next home. The town offers wide open spaces that are perfect for roaming. When you feel like stretching your legs, you can take a lazy stroll along the isolated trails of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and admire migratory birds. Seal Beach Health and Rehabilitation serves to foster the well-being of retirees in the community by providing vital independent living services.

Seal Beach offers quality education, especially at the elementary level. It is also only half an hour from Los Angeles, so residents can access all the creature comforts of city life whenever they need them. Lastly, the median home price here is about $800,000, a fair price for the waterfront views.

Joshua Tree

This quaint desert community in San Bernardino County is recognized for its spectacular natural landscapes and artistic flair. It is a gateway to Joshua Tree National Park, a playground for ardent outdoorspeople with opportunities like rock climbing, camping, and hiking. Joshua Tree's artistry shows through the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum. This fabulous open-air gallery features a quirky collection of folk art creations that you can walk around to admire.

The Hi Desert Medical Center is the primary care provider in Joshua Tree, catering to inpatient and outpatient services around the clock. Pensioners who need support can benefit from crucial programs by the Joshua Tree Senior Center designed for their well-being. Finally, a decent dwelling in Joshua Tree costs around $360,000.

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is a paradisiacal waterfront community in Southern California that allows its residents to spend their weekends on the water. Golfing is a big part of local culture, and residents often converge at the Canyon Lake Golf & Country Club to test their swing. The weekly Canyon Lake Certified Farmers Market helps enhance a sense of belonging in the town by encouraging frequent interactions among residents in a warm environment.

Being a gated community, security is not a concern for many in Canyon Lake. The town is just over an hour's drive from Los Angeles, allowing residents to seek superior services if needed, such as medical care at the Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. Also, the local median home price is $710,000, around $100,000 less than the state average.

Tehachapi

Tehachapi is a small town at the base of the Tehachapi Mountains with a rich heritage and splendid outdoor surroundings. Newcomers can learn about its backstory at the Tehachapi Heritage League Museum, whose vast artifact collection highlights life in the community since the pioneer days. Also, outdoor opportunities abound throughout the year at the Tehachapi Mountain Park, allowing locals to maintain an active lifestyle through hikes and climbs.

The presence of Adventis Health Tehachapi Valley ensures that residents do not need to seek quality health services outside the town. Cement manufacturing is one of the economic pillars in Tehachapi, with the Tehachapi Cement plant employing a considerable fraction of the local population. Lastly, a nice home in the area will cost you around $500,000.

Final Thoughts

While there is no shortage of options for anyone relocating to the Golden State, the best places to live in Southern California in 2025 provide a balance between affordability, safety, health, access, and a sense of community, among others. The above towns tick many of the boxes and provide the right setting to ensure their residents achieve the most gratifying quality of life. If you are not sure where to settle, any of them will make an excellent choice.