Best places to live in California
- Overall Rank: 272
- Population: 2,007
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (82% own)
- Median rent: $3,300 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Duveneck Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 267
- Population: 6,159
- Median household income: $130,017
- Median home value: $1,012,208 (10% own)
- Median rent: $2,242 (90% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 261
- Population: 14,161
- Median household income: $150,498
- Median home value: $1,606,202 (23% own)
- Median rent: $2,270 (77% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 257
- Population: 2,534
- Median household income: $188,503
- Median home value: $1,579,359 (19% own)
- Median rent: $3,145 (81% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 253
- Population: 12,403
- Median household income: $169,864
- Median home value: $1,483,721 (28% own)
- Median rent: $2,539 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 240
- Population: 6,451
- Median household income: $118,479
- Median home value: $1,029,772 (25% own)
- Median rent: $2,213 (75% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 236
- Population: 3,497
- Median household income: $154,814
- Median home value: $1,548,293 (26% own)
- Median rent: $2,952 (74% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 217
- Population: 10,935
- Median household income: $80,468
- Median home value: $1,171,263 (35% own)
- Median rent: $2,020 (65% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Willard Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 216
- Population: 1,215
- Median household income: $141,444
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (47% own)
- Median rent: $2,888 (53% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Fletcher Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 211
- Population: 8,058
- Median household income: $243,522
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (54% own)
- Median rent: $3,379 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Duveneck Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 206
- Population: 6,031
- Median household income: $109,090
- Median home value: $981,425 (35% own)
- Median rent: $2,063 (65% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Willard Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 197
- Population: 3,868
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (69% own)
- Median rent: $3,465 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Ohlone Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 196
- Population: 4,962
- Median household income: $51,480
- Median home value: $1,440,269 (20% own)
- Median rent: $2,021 (80% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Willard Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 186
- Population: 7,205
- Median household income: $155,843
- Median home value: $1,186,684 (62% own)
- Median rent: $2,355 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Albany High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Maybeck High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 181
- Population: 964
- Median household income: $188,125
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (75% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Fletcher Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), Khan Lab School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 176
- Population: 13,737
- Median household income: $91,224
- Median home value: $970,247 (7% own)
- Median rent: $1,956 (93% rent)
- Top public schools: Lowell High School (grade A+), The New School of San Francisco (grade A+), Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lick-Wilmerding High School (grade A+), Urban School of San Francisco (grade A+), San Francisco University High School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 171
- Population: 2,688
- Median household income: $183,694
- Median home value: $1,917,430 (64% own)
- Median rent: $3,097 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Los Altos High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 169
- Population: 5,671
- Median household income: $63,345
- Median home value: $1,417,800 (2% own)
- Median rent: $2,183 (98% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Willard Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 168
- Population: 10,944
- Median household income: $125,005
- Median home value: $1,582,002 (40% own)
- Median rent: $2,275 (60% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Willard Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 166
- Population: 7,585
- Median household income: $118,914
- Median home value: $1,322,773 (41% own)
- Median rent: $2,162 (59% rent)
- Top public schools: Yu Ming Charter School (grade A+), Berkeley High School (grade A+), Willard Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The College Preparatory School (grade A+), Head-Royce School (grade A+), Bentley School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 147
- Population: 14,732
- Median household income: $135,460
- Median home value: $1,739,606 (45% own)
- Median rent: $2,372 (55% rent)
- Top public schools: Girls Academic Leadership Academy: Dr. Michelle King School for STEM (grade A+), High Tech Los Angeles (grade A+), Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Harvard-Westlake School (grade A+), Windward School (grade A+), Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 141
- Population: 5,665
- Median household income: $195,325
- Median home value: $1,675,363 (54% own)
- Median rent: $2,863 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Los Altos High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 99
- Population: 4,644
- Median household income: $191,323
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (60% own)
- Median rent: $2,495 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Fletcher Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 61
- Population: 3,975
- Median household income: $194,771
- Median home value: $1,898,337 (35% own)
- Median rent: $2,797 (65% rent)
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (grade A+), Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 50
- Population: 11,818
- Median household income: $96,838
- Median home value: $1,532,260 (19% own)
- Median rent: $2,252 (81% rent)
- Top public schools: High Tech Los Angeles (grade A+), Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (grade A+), Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Harvard-Westlake School (grade A+), Windward School (grade A+), Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 43
- Population: 7,352
- Median household income: $63,559
- Median home value: $1,822,077 (27% own)
- Median rent: $2,090 (73% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Ohlone Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), Khan Lab School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 34
- Population: 4,808
- Median household income: $188,553
- Median home value: $1,942,230 (36% own)
- Median rent: $2,312 (64% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Ohlone Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), Khan Lab School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 33
- Population: 17,310
- Median household income: $117,800
- Median home value: $1,206,402 (22% own)
- Median rent: $2,234 (78% rent)
- Top public schools: High Tech Los Angeles (grade A+), Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (grade A+), Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Harvard-Westlake School (grade A+), Windward School (grade A+), Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 10
- Population: 9,678
- Median household income: $196,151
- Median home value: $1,969,518 (30% own)
- Median rent: $2,974 (70% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Ohlone Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), The Harker School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 7
- Population: 2,912
- Median household income: $155,929
- Median home value: $1,757,199 (24% own)
- Median rent: $2,977 (76% rent)
- Top public schools: Palo Alto High School (grade A+), Mission Early College High (grade A+), Ohlone Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (grade A+), Menlo School (grade A+), Khan Lab School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.