4 Cities in California Selected as “Top 100 Most Livable Cities in the United States”

Recently released list of the “Top 100 Most Livable Cities in the United States” includes four cities from California, namely Elk Grove, Clovis, Murrieta, and Redding.

According to the Livability website, this ranking only considers medium-sized cities with populations ranging from 75,000 to 500,000, as they are more conducive to quick integration, making friends, and feeling at home. Affordability is also a key factor, with only cities with median home prices of $500,000 or less being considered. They also analyzed the average rents and housing prices relative to income in each city, as well as other factors affecting the cost of living. This assessment, conducted in collaboration with Applied Geographic Solutions, comprehensively evaluates various indicators such as the economy, housing, cost of living, amenities, transportation, health, and environment by analyzing nearly 100 data points using algorithms.

Among the four California cities on the list, Elk Grove in Sacramento County, Northern California, scored the highest with 799 points out of a possible 1000. With a population of approximately 180,000, the city boasts a median home price close to $500,000. Livability describes Elk Grove as a city that “attracts people from all over the country with its friendly community atmosphere and celebratory spirit,” making it easy to settle in due to its low crime rate, family-friendly environment, numerous high-quality schools, green spaces, and child-friendly entertainment activities.

Clovis in Fresno County received a score of 751, with a population of about 124,000 and a median home price of around $378,000. Redding in Shasta County scored 713 points, has a population of about 94,500, and a median home price of nearly $340,000.

In Riverside County, Southern California, Murrieta achieved a score of 730. With a population of around 109,000, the city’s median home price is approximately $492,000.

Topping the list nationwide is Carmel, Indiana, with a score of 875, followed closely by Cary, North Carolina, and Columbia, Maryland, both scoring 874 points.

Furthermore, California also has three cities listed in the top five “Happiest Cities in America” by the personal finance website WalletHub, including Fremont (1st place), San Jose (3rd place), and Irvine (5th place).

These “Happiest Cities” are also the wealthiest. An analyst from WalletHub mentioned that money to some extent can buy happiness because stable income is crucial for a person’s physical and mental well-being. However, many other factors impact happiness, and the selection of the “Happiest Cities” combines economic security with friendly communities, conditions conducive to reducing depression and enhancing life satisfaction.