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Most affordable towns to live in in California
Ranked by our Cost of living score out of 100, which is based on everyday prices compared with the rest of the US, and typical rent. Of the 1053 towns in California with 1,000 or more people, these are the top 25.
Penryn ranks first with a score of 67. Mariposa and Redway follow, with 67 and 66. Scores compare each town with all 27,850 towns we track across the US.
| Rank | Town | Score | Everyday prices | Typical rent | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penryn | 67 | 96.1 | $573 | 1,114 |
| 2 | Mariposa | 67 | 96.1 | $593 | 1,137 |
| 3 | Redway | 66 | 96.1 | $659 | 1,145 |
| 4 | Del Rey | 63 | 96.1 | $742 | 1,654 |
| 5 | Needles | 63 | 96.1 | $745 | 4,872 |
| 6 | Casa Loma | 63 | 96.1 | $749 | 1,587 |
| 7 | Weed | 61 | 96.1 | $788 | 2,737 |
| 8 | Westmorland | 61 | 96.1 | $793 | 1,844 |
| 9 | Delft Colony | 61 | 96.1 | $793 | 1,043 |
| 10 | Lone Pine | 61 | 96.1 | $797 | 1,439 |
| 11 | Portola | 60 | 96.1 | $819 | 2,441 |
| 12 | Searles Valley | 60 | 96.1 | $819 | 1,713 |
| 13 | Alturas | 59 | 96.1 | $833 | 2,681 |
| 14 | Montague | 59 | 96.1 | $833 | 1,479 |
| 15 | Big River | 59 | 96.1 | $839 | 1,140 |
| 16 | Hayfork | 59 | 96.1 | $840 | 2,537 |
| 17 | Lost Hills | 59 | 96.1 | $841 | 1,926 |
| 18 | Hydesville | 58 | 96.1 | $860 | 1,263 |
| 19 | Holtville | 58 | 96.1 | $861 | 5,617 |
| 20 | Oasis | 58 | 96.1 | $862 | 4,051 |
| 21 | Sky Valley | 57 | 96.1 | $863 | 2,255 |
| 22 | Le Grand | 57 | 96.1 | $866 | 1,636 |
| 23 | Ivanhoe | 57 | 96.1 | $870 | 4,629 |
| 24 | Strathmore | 57 | 96.1 | $871 | 2,675 |
| 25 | Hoopa | 57 | 96.1 | $887 | 2,233 |
Only towns with 1,000 or more people are ranked. Scores compare each town with all towns we track. See how we score towns and where the figures come from. These are estimates, so check official sources before you decide.
More rankings for California
- Towns with the most affordable housing
- Towns with the best schools
- Fastest-growing towns
- Towns with the best jobs and income
- Most walkable towns
- Towns with the lowest property taxes
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