Pristine beaches. Ancient redwood forests. Majestic mountains. If you are moving beyond the stage in life where you have to spend your days going from the cubicle to the commute, California is a pretty wonderful place to be.
That’s why U.S. News and World report put together a list of the very best places to retire in California. High quality of life, abundant job opportunities and highly-rated health care options make the state a desirable place to retire, according to this U.S. News analysis of the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. The study crunched the numbers about housing affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, the job market and access to medical care.
You may be shocked to learn that despite the steep cost of living and brutal traffic jams that plague these two Bay Area cities, San Francisco and San Jose were both ranked in the top eight across the Golden State. The city by the bay got place fourth place while its south bay neighbor was ranked number seven.
“California has long been a place where people go to create a new life,” as the report notes. “The natural wonders including stunning ocean views, dramatic mountains and venerable forests will charm even the most exhausted and jaded retiree. The year-round pleasant climate and consistently sunny weather make it possible to enjoy the outdoors all year, assuming you can afford the sometimes astronomical housing prices.”
San Francisco scores highly for its tech credentials, which mean that retirees can more easily find side hustles, if need be. The report notes that you may well need to work part-time to be able to afford the steep cost of housing here. According to the study, the median home price is $716,100.
That’s lower than the most recent CoreLogic report, which estimates the median price for an existing home at $1.5 million in San Francisco. Either way, you will also have to pony up to partake in the city’s famous array of arts offerings, from the ballet to the theater, and its world famous restaurant scene.
However, access to medical care is key in the golden years and UCSF Medical Center and Stanford Hospital have both been both ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the country by U.S. News. Karl the fog was also calculated in this ranking.
“San Francisco’s famously cool summers make this a great place to escape the heat,” says the report. “Watching the summer fog envelope the Golden Gate Bridge is a sight you won’t see anywhere else.”
The San Jose metro area was also praised for its tech connections. As the headquarters for many global tech companies such as PayPal, Cisco and Adobe, the report notes, the capital of Silicon Valley is hard to beat for its bounty of job opportunities. One of the wealthiest cities in the world, as U.S. News reports, San Jose also has some of the highest housing prices in the country. The report cites the city’s median home price at $822,600 but CoreLogic estimates the median in Santa Clara County at about $1.13 million.
However the city gets props for its weather and environment. It also gets a bonus for being a college town, noting that San Jose State University is the oldest public university on the West Coast.
Certainly all of the Bay Area has long been praised for its scenic pleasures. Retirees can trade away watching the clock for drinking in the views.
Also ranking highly in this report are the nearby regions of Santa Rosa, the second place winner, and Sacramento, the river city, at number five. Further afield, San Diego got the top spot, Los Angeles came in at number three, Modesto (#6) and Fresno (#8) also scored well for spending your leisure years in California.
