7 Welcoming Towns to Retire in Southern California
Southern California is a lively and dynamic region celebrated for its fantastic weather and status as a global entertainment hub. Major cities like Los Angeles and San Diego stand out as its most renowned destinations, complemented by a variety of towns scattered across the landscape. With a population of around 24 million, the region is iconic and well-known for great beaches, showbiz, and some top-notch cultural events.
SoCal is a welcoming option for retirees, with countless activities to try out, from beaches all the way to relaxing days outside golfing. The area offers excellent healthcare and a relaxed lifestyle, so retirees enjoy a vibrant community with plenty of cultural events, making it an ideal place to settle.
Get ready for your California retirement adventure and read on to learn about seven welcoming towns for retirees.
Wrightwood
Wrightwood is a quaint little town in the mountains, lying away in the San Gabriel Mountains. The town of around 4,500 is only about 75 miles away from Los Angeles, towards the northeast. It is also near other cities like Victorville, which allows one to live a calm, country life but still have good hospitals close by. As an example, the Desert Valley Hospital is not even 30 minutes away, which makes sure important care is easy to get.
According to Zillow, the average home here goes for about $459,000, a significant drop from the California average of $773,363. Wrightwood lends retirees an blossoming arts scene here to enjoy. For a touch of class and arts, the Wrightwood Arts Center hosts art shows and workshops, and retirees can participate in classes or simply enjoy the local talent, staying engaged and inspired. Lastly, Mountain High Resort, close by, is popular for skiing. In the chilly winters, you can ski, snowboard, or even tube.
Tehachapi
Up high at 4,000 feet above sea level, lies Tehachapi, a comfortable mountain town in Kern County and sun-kissed Southern California. People know it for one-of-a-kind landscapes littered with windmill fields and grape-growing farms. The mild climate and friendly residents make it a prime spot for people chasing peace and quiet. The town has some serious advantages for retirees. Homes here average out at $418,901 and the town has the Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley Hospital, providing a range of healthcare services, including emergency care, imaging, and outpatient services.
The town also comes with a welcoming vibe of togetherness you can really feel at its festivals, like the annual Tehachapi Apple Festival, where residents come together for music, food, and fun. The town has some curious landmarks too. The Tehachapi Loop is an extraordinary roundabout on the train line that twirls over its own tail. This engineering marvel draws in fans from all walks of life. Not far away, the local historical gem - Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum - throws open a window to the town's past twisted with rails and locomotives through displays, relics, and age-old scale models of trains.
El Centro
Only about half an hour north of the Mexican border, the friendly town of El Centro is found in the hot Imperial Valley in Southern California. The town’s industrial backbone is easy to see. It is as simple as peeking at a map to spot the sea of farms surrounding the town. A typical house in this place rings up at $358,547, which is under half of what you would usually pay throughout the state. It also comes with quality healthcare, options, one of which can be found at the El Centro Regional Medical Center.
A great option for staying engaged and active is found over at the El Centro Adult Center, which has a variety of services and activities tailored to seniors and retirees. For things to do, the Pioneers' Museum is an interesting museum teaching the town’s history, its farming endeavors, and insights into Native American life in the Imperial Valley. If you are a retiree looking to explore the outdoors, not far from El Centro, you can find a huge area of rolling sand dunes, called the Algodones Dunes, the biggest of its kind in the U.S.
Ridgecrest
Prefer dry heat? Consider the Mojave Desert and the town of Ridgecrest, located in the Indian Wells Valley. This friendly little town, with its 28,000 residents, carries a critical part in the region's pulse. Housing here is very affordable for California, with the average home coming in at $273,233. After you retire, looking after your health is a top priority. Retirees can try the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in town, which has all the medical help you need, even specialized care.
For history buffs, the Maturango Museum is a place where you can dive into the history of the area. It showcases the long history of the regional Native American culture. The museum has guides who take you to Petroglyph Canyon. Here, you get to see a huge collection of Native American rock art, one of the biggest in the country. Another benefit of Ridgecrest is how the town's location allows you to enjoy nature with ease, as the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Death Valley, and Sequoia National Forest are all in driving distance.
Adelanto
Other than the welcoming atmosphere the town brings, one of Adelanto's great selling points is its proximity to lots of large, urban areas. Adelanto is situated near highways, making it simple to reach places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and more. Homes on average go for just over $396,000, lower than both county and state averages. As well, places like the Adelanto Senior Center help welcome retirees into the community so the moving process is seamless and enjoyable.
It doesn't hurt that the town has some incredible, unique attractions to see. The Thien Vien Chan Nguyen Buddhist Meditation Center, located on Highway 395, offers a Zen setting for meditation and reflection. Also, El Mirage Dry Lake is a hit with folks who love the outdoors. Right next to Adelanto, you will find people camping, taking off-road drives, and gazing at the stars. Retirees who want full-on adventure and stunning sights will find this outdoor option a real treat.
Borrego Springs
Looking for a chill desert town? Check out Borrego Springs. This town, hugged by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, serves as a peaceful retreat for retirees. This calm spot is great for its sprawling spaces. It pairs refreshing air with views of stunning mountains. The town's homes typically cost about $465,000—a pretty decent price for the region.
In matters of health, a couple of good choices exist. The Borrego Medical Clinic is conveniently located in town, and you can go there for regular needs. If something more specific comes up, Pioneers Memorial Hospital is roughly an hour's distance away. For more serious needs, you can head to Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, around 90 minutes from town.
The welcoming town always has something to do too. If you like the outdoors, you can explore tons of trails like Hellhole Canyon or take a drive down to Fonts Point for epic desert views. Art lovers will be right at home when they find Galleta Meadows. It has over 130 giant metal sculptures, and you can wander around them at your own pace. Plus, there is the Borrego Art Institute if you want to see some local artwork.
Yucca Valley
This desert town sits in Southern California's Mojave Desert, just about 30 miles up north from Palm Springs. It also has the distinction of being next-door neighbors with the Joshua Tree National Park, if you feel like exploring an American icon. Out of the town's population of around 21,700 people, 21.3 percent of the population is 65 years or older, so you will find a like-minded welcoming community to join.
Looking for good health care options? Yucca Valley hosts a variety of these, with Hi-Desert Medical Center and an assortment of other clinics available. And if you are wondering about reasonably priced houses? Here in Yucca Valley, the typical house price is around $373,350.
For some local flavor, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum and Pioneertown are standout attractions in Yucca Valley. The museum showcases the Morongo Basin's wildlife, Native American artifacts, and history, while Pioneertown, originally a 1940s Hollywood set, offers an Old West experience with shops, restaurants, and reenactments, making both ideal destinations for retirees to explore.
In Conclusion
Ready to retire? Seven towns in Southern California have got you covered. These towns are not just pretty. They offer affordable living and friendly communities too. Do you want adventure? Or maybe culture is more your thing? Or maybe you just want some peace and quiet?
Don't worry. There is a spot just for you in Southern California. Just grab your things and get ready for an exciting new chapter in a town that is ready to welcome you with open arms.
