Top locations to nurture a family in California
Selecting a location for child-rearing can be an overwhelming endeavor for any family. If it indeed requires a community to raise a child, that concept might reach all the way to your neighbor, your child’s teacher, or the volunteer sports coach. While all guardians seek an excellent environment for their children, often this choice involves balancing—and prioritizing—specific communal resources and expenses.
Stacker has assembled a compilation of the optimal places to raise a family in California utilizing data from Niche. Niche evaluates living areas based on various criteria, such as living expenses, educational institutions, medical care, recreational opportunities, and climate. Continue reading to find out if your hometown or current residence has made the list.
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#25. Foster City
– Population: 33,997
– Median home price: $1,245,800 (57% own)
– Median rent: $3,209 (43% rent)
– Median household earnings: $158,529
– Leading public schools: Carlmont High School (A+), San Mateo High School (A+), Hillsdale High School (A+)
– Prominent private schools: Kids Connection Elementary School (unavailable), Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School (unavailable), Bright Horizon Chinese School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 106 Goldhunter Ct, Foster City ($2.5 million, 4 bedrooms)
#24. Moraga
– Population: 17,539
– Median home price: $1,140,700 (82% own)
– Median rent: $2,128 (18% rent)
– Median household earnings: $140,378
– Leading public schools: Campolindo High School (A+), Miramonte High School (A+), Acalanes High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: The Saklan School (A+)
– Pictured: 30 Quail Xing, Moraga ($2.5 million, 1 bedroom)
#23. San Carlos
– Population: 30,154
– Median home price: $1,625,700 (72% own)
– Median rent: $2,321 (28% rent)
– Median household earnings: $182,083
– Leading public schools: Carlmont High School (A+), San Carlos Charter Learning Center (A), Tierra Linda Middle School (A)
– Notable private schools: St. Charles School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 147 Oakley Ave, San Carlos ($4.0 million, 5 bedrooms)
#22. Corte Madera
– Population: 9,838
– Median home price: $1,200,300 (66% own)
– Median rent: $2,642 (34% rent)
– Median household earnings: $149,439
– Leading public schools: Redwood High School (A+), Tamalpais High School (A+), Sir Francis Drake High School (A+)
– Prominent private schools: Marin Country Day School (A), Marin Montessori School (unavailable), Corte Madera Montessori (unavailable)
– Pictured: 39 Edison Ave, Corte Madera ($2.0 million, 3 bedrooms)
#21. San Marino
– Population: 13,194
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (86% own)
– Median rent: $3,293 (14% rent)
– Median household earnings: $166,607
– Leading public schools: San Marino High School (A+), K.L. Carver Elementary (A+), Valentine Elementary School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Southwestern Academy (A+)
– Pictured: 999 Rosalind Rd, San Marino ($19.8 million, 6 bedrooms)
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#20. Ladera Ranch
– Population: 27,277
– Median home price: $820,100 (72% own)
– Median rent: $2,341 (28% rent)
– Median household earnings: $161,348
– Leading public schools: San Juan Hills High School (A+), Tesoro High School (A+), Capistrano Valley High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Montessori of Ladera Ranch (unavailable), Ladera Ranch KinderCare (unavailable), The Goddard School – Ladera Ranch (unavailable)
– Pictured: 26 Catalina Vista Rd, Ladera Ranch ($3.5 million, 4 bedrooms)
#19. Palo Alto
– Population: 66,573
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (55% own)
– Median rent: $2,569 (45% rent)
– Median household earnings: $158,271
– Leading public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (A+), Palo Alto High School (A+), Los Altos High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Castilleja School (A+), Kehillah Jewish High School (A+), The Girls’ Middle School (A+)
– Pictured: 890 Robb Rd, Palo Alto ($19.5 million, 7 bedrooms)
#18. Irvine
– Population: 273,157
– Median home price: $838,000 (47% own)
– Median rent: $2,361 (53% rent)
– Median household earnings: $105,126
– Leading public schools: Orange County School of the Arts (A+), University High School (A+), Northwood High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: TVT Community Day School (A+), Pacific Academy (A+), Crean Lutheran High School (A+)
– Pictured: 39 Echo Gln, Irvine ($11.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#17. Rolling Hills
– Population: 1,513
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (95% own)
– Median rent: $3,501 (5% rent)
– Median household earnings: $250,001
– Leading public schools: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (A+), Palos Verdes High School (A+), Vista Grande Elementary School (A+)
– Pictured: 1 Pine Tree Ln, Rolling Hills ($16.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#16. San Ramon
– Population: 75,648
– Median home price: $958,800 (72% own)
– Median rent: $2,391 (28% rent)
– Median household earnings: $160,783
– Leading public schools: Dougherty Valley High School (A+), Monte Vista High School (A+), California High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: The Dorris – Eaton School (unavailable), The Child Day School – San Ramon / Hidden Canyon (unavailable), Montessori School of San Ramon (unavailable)
– Pictured: 257 Zinnia Ct, San Ramon ($2.5 million, 4 bedrooms)
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#15. Kentfield
– Population: 7,020
– Median home price: $1,997,100 (81% own)
– Median rent: $2,187 (19% rent)
– Median household earnings: $214,081
– Leading public schools: Redwood High School (A+), Tamalpais High School (A+), Sir Francis Drake High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Marin Catholic High School (A+)
– Pictured: 215 Laurel Grove Ave, Kentfield ($5.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#14. Pleasanton
– Population: 81,717
– Median home price: $986,800 (70% own)
– Median rent: $2,396 (30% rent)
– Median household earnings: $156,400
– Leading public schools: Amador Valley High School (A+), Foothill High School (A+), Dublin High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Stratford School – Pleasanton (unavailable), Hacienda Child Development Center (unavailable), Hacienda School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 1853 Via Di Salerno, Pleasanton ($5.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#13. San Anselmo
– Population: 12,525
– Median home price: $1,066,800 (68% own)
– Median rent: $1,930 (32% rent)
– Median household earnings: $128,212
– Leading public schools: Redwood High School (A+), Tamalpais High School (A+), Sir Francis Drake High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: St. Anselm School (unavailable), San Anselmo Montessori School (unavailable), Irene M. Hunt School of Marin (unavailable)
– Pictured: 29 Timothy Ave, San Anselmo ($2.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
#12. Palos Verdes Estates
– Population: 13,434
– Median home price: $2,000,000 (86% own)
– Median rent: $2,683 (14% rent)
– Median household earnings: $194,543
– Leading public schools: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (A+), Palos Verdes High School (A+), Point Vicente Elementary School (A+)
– Pictured: 609 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates ($10.5 million, 5 bedrooms)
#11. Albany
– Population: 19,804
– Median home price: $882,500 (47% own)
– Median rent: $1,856 (53% rent)
– Median household earnings: $95,400
– Leading public schools: Albany High School (A+), Marin Elementary School (A), Albany Middle School (A)
– Notable private schools: Tilden Preparatory School – Albany (A+)
– Pictured: 1245 Washington Ave, Albany ($1.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
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#10. Santa Monica
– Population: 91,577
– Median home price: $1,382,700 (29% own)
– Median rent: $1,802 (71% rent)
– Median household earnings: $96,570
– Leading public schools: Santa Monica High School (A+), Franklin Elementary School (A+), Grant Elementary School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (A+), New Roads School (A+), Pacifica Christian High School (A+)
– Pictured: 121 Esparta Way, Santa Monica ($14.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#9. Piedmont
– Population: 11,317
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (88% own)
– Median rent: $3,229 (12% rent)
– Median household earnings: $224,659
– Leading public schools: Piedmont High School (A+), Beach Elementary School (A+), Piedmont Middle School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Corpus Christi School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 94 King Ave, Piedmont ($4.5 million, 3 bedrooms)
#8. Loyola
– Population: 3,367
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (92% own)
– Median rent: $3,501 (8% rent)
– Median household earnings: $246,563
– Leading public schools: Los Altos High School (A+), Mountain View High School (A+), Monta Vista High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Waldorf School of the Peninsula Los Altos Campus (unavailable)
– Pictured: 796 Terrace Dr, Los Altos ($8.0 million, 5 bedrooms)
#7. Manhattan Beach
– Population: 35,500
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (70% own)
– Median rent: $2,628 (30% rent)
– Median household earnings: $153,023
– Leading public schools: Mira Costa High School (A+), Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary School (A+), Pacific Elementary School (A+)
– Notable private schools: American Martyrs Catholic School (unavailable), Manhattan Academy (unavailable), Montessori School of Manhattan Beach (unavailable)
– Pictured: 2316 The Strand, Manhattan Beach ($16.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#6. Monte Sereno
– Population: 3,479
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (94% own)
– Median rent: $2,722 (6% rent)
– Median household earnings: $250,001
– Leading public schools: Saratoga High School (A+), Los Gatos High School (A+), Saratoga Elementary School (A)
– Pictured: 18216 Daves Ave, Monte Sereno ($7.2 million, 5 bedrooms)
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#5. West Menlo Park
– Population: 4,160
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (78% own)
– Median rent: $2,980 (22% rent)
– Median household earnings: $214,167
– Leading public schools: Menlo-Atherton High School (A+), La Entrada Middle School (A), Las Lomitas Elementary School (A)
– Notable private schools: University Heights Montessori Children’s Center (unavailable)
– Pictured: 2072 Ashton Ave, Menlo Park ($3.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
#4. South Pasadena
– Population: 25,661
– Median home price: $1,071,000 (47% own)
– Median rent: $1,802 (53% rent)
– Median household earnings: $104,308
– Leading public schools: South Pasadena Senior High School (A+), Monterey Hills Elementary School (A+), Arroyo Vista Elementary School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Holy Family Catholic School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 1339 Garfield Ave, South Pasadena ($3.6 million, 6 bedrooms)
#3. Los Altos Hills
– Population: 8,505
– Median home price: $2,000,001 (92% own)
– Median rent: $2,674 (8% rent)
– Median household earnings: $250,001
– Leading public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (A+), Los Altos High School (A+), Mountain View High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Pinewood School – Upper Campus (A+)
– Pictured: 10570 Blandor Way, Los Altos Hills ($21.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#2. Mountain View
– Population: 81,656
– Median home price: $1,413,500 (42% own)
– Median rent: $2,456 (58% rent)
– Median household earnings: $139,720
– Leading public schools: Los Altos High School (A+), Mountain View High School (A+), Homestead High School (A+)
– Notable private schools: St. Francis High School (A+), Waldorf School of the Peninsula – Mountain View Campus (A+), German International School of Silicon Valley – Mountain View Campus (A)
– Pictured: 1142 Fordham Way, Mountain View ($3.6 million, 3 bedrooms)
#1. La Cañada Flintridge
– Population: 20,261
– Median home price: $1,518,000 (91% own)
– Median rent: $2,858 (9% rent)
– Median household earnings: $175,788
– Leading public schools: La Canada High School (A+), Crescenta Valley High School (A+), Palm Crest Elementary School (A+)
– Notable private schools: Flintridge Preparatory School (A+), Flintridge Sacred Heart (A+), St. Francis High School (A+)
– Pictured: 1600 Fairmount Ave, La Canada Flintridge ($9.0 million, 5 bedrooms)
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By Stacker
