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A poll conducted in 2020 revealed that 48% of people would rather live in a small town or rural area instead of a city or suburb. That's why Stacker compiled a list of the best small towns to live in along the West Coast.
To determine this, "Stacker referenced Niche’s 2021 Best Places to Live study, narrowed the results to the West Coast, and narrowed them further to places under 5,000 residents."
According to their findings, these are the best small California towns to live in:
- No. 3 - Del Mar
- Population: 4,331
- Median household income: $129,063
- Owners: 53%
- Renters: 47%
- No. 4 - Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Population: 3,830
- Median household income: $98,188
- Owners: 57%
- Renters: 43%
- No. 5 - Monte Sereno
- Population: 3,479
- Median household income: $250,001
- Owners: 94%
- Renters: 6%
- No. 6 - Rolling Hills
- Population: 1,513
- Median household income: $250,001
- Owners: 95%
- Renters: 5%
- No. 7 - West Menlo Park
- Population: 4,160
- Median household income: $214,167
- Owners: 78%
- Renters: 22%
- No. 8 - Loyola
- Population: 3,367
- Median household income: $246,563
- Owners: 92%
- Renters: 8%
- No. 9 - Del Monte Forest
- Population: 4,105
- Median household income: $147,500
- Owners: 82%
- Renters: 18%
- No. 12 - Belvedere
- Population: 2,134
- Median household income: $245,208
- Owners: 76%
- Renters: 24%
- No. 13 - Ross
- Population: 2,290
- Median household income: $224,500
- Owners: 83%
- Renters: 17%
- No. 14 - Camino Tassajara
- Population: 4,721
- Median household income: $230,313
- Owners: 85%
- Renters: 15%
- No. 15 - Sleepy Hollow
- Population: 2,273
- Median household income: $212,868
- Owners: 98%
- Renters: 2%
- No. 16 - Mount Hermon
- Population: 1,259
- Median household income: $90,208
- Owners: 66%
- Renters: 34%
- No. 17 - Hidden Hills
- Population: 1,751
- Median household income: $246,042
- Owners: 95%
- Renters: 5%
- No. 18 - Rancho Santa Fe
- Population: 2,510
- Median household income: $137,083
- Owners: 80%
- Renters: 20%
- No. 19 - Mission Canyon
- Population: 2,508
- Median household income: $135,972
- Owners: 87%
- Renters: 13%
- No. 20 - Portola Valley
- Population: 4,592
- Median household income: $224,554
- Owners: 77%
- Renters: 23%
- No. 21 - Ladera
- Population: 1,607
- Median household income: $250,001
- Owners: 100%
- Renters: 0%
- No. 22 - Cambrian Park
- Population: 3,258
- Median household income: $176,964
- Owners: 80%
- Renters: 20%
- No. 23 - East Richmond Heights
- Population: 3,162
- Median household income: $91,100
- Owners: 79%
- Renters: 21%