California is incredibly large, populous and diverse. It has forests, mountains, beaches, arid deserts, fertile valleys, and everything in between. And each region has its own major cities. Here’s a breakdown of where to move in California:
Northern CA – Northern California is far more rural than most other parts of the state. The largest cities are Eureka/Arcata and Redding; however, these cities are actually quite small, and they’re quite isolated. In between them and the rest of the state? Pure, unadulterated beauty. Northern California is strikingly beautiful, especially along the widely-untouched coast, referred to as the “Lost Coast.” Cheap, beautiful and hippy.
Bay Area – San Francisco anchors the Bay Area, but San Jose and Oakland/Berkeley play large roles, too. San Francisco is California’s one true city – a dense downtown with a healthy public transit system. The entire area is constantly blossoming with innovations, jobs and nice weather. However, it’s also one of the most expensive areas in the US world. It’s also one of the US’ most liberal places.
Sacramento – Sacramento is the state capital and stands on its own as the largest city of the large central valley region. Sacramento is more conservative than San Francisco, which is about an hour south. It is also much warmer and much cheaper.
Central Valley – The central valley produces tons of tons of fruit, vegetables and nuts for the world’s consumption. California’s agricultural economy is massive, and it all happens here. The area isn’t as green as you might think, though. All the water goes to the crops, fields of which go on forever. Around the fields is hot, flat arid land. Fresno and Bakersfield are the two major cities in the Central Valley.
Central Coast – The central coastline is dotted with cities, like Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Luis Obispo, which are both beautiful and rich with culture. They’re not as large as San Francisco to the north or LA to the south, but they are still well-populated and have plenty of jobs.
Los Angeles – LA is the big daddy, the second largest metro in the US, behind only New York. It has everything a big city offers, except a condensed downtown feel. Most people drive, leading to the city’s notorious traffic. However, while San Francisco might look more like a big city, LA counters with warmer weather and many gorgeous beaches.
Orange County – Located between LA and San Diego, Orange County is a wealthy, conservative bastion in California. It has great beaches, too, and many jobs and housing. Anaheim and Irvine are some of the largest cities here.
San Diego – San Diego is California’s southern-most city. It edges Mexico and the Pacific Coast. It’s a prime place for beaching and leading a very warm, Californian life. However, pricing is predictably high, and San Diego, like LA, lacks the coordinated public transit system common to many large cities.
Mojave Desert – Inland from LA and San Diego are a number of cities in the desert, led by Palm Springs. These cities feel more like Arizona than lush California, and their housing prices and jobs reflect it. Though perhaps not as glamorous as San Diego or LA, they’re far cheaper and far easier to find work in.
Still wondering where to move in California? Learn more about different California cities, or check with some California movers today.
