Are you planning to move to California?
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and one of the best places to live on earth. The state is home to Hollywood, Silicon Valley, giant redwoods, stunning beaches, Disneyland, and several other world-famous places.
According to the World Economic Forum, if California were a country, it would be the sixth-largest economy in the world. The state is home to thousands of startups making it one of the most favorite spots for entrepreneurs and job hunters.
California’s booming tech and entertainment industries, and cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, and San Jose, etc. make it one of the most coveted places for millennials and many families.
If all of that sounds like what you’d like to be a part of, moving to California is perfect for you. But if you’re yet to make a decision, we have all the information you need about the golden state to help you decide if moving to California is right for you!
A quick look at the population and other demographics of California.
California is home to 39.9 million people and one out of every eight United States residents live in the state. California’s median age is 36 years and around 50.3% of the state population are female, while 49.6% are male.
If the weather is one of the key metrics you’ll like to consider before moving to California, the state weather, the state has warm dry summers and mild wet winters. Here’s a breakdown of the state’s weather since you’re considering moving to California:
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California’s average one-way commute time is 28.8 minutes. The U.S. average is 26.4 minutes. That means the average commuting time in California is longer than the U.S. average. Commuting time is key since you’re considering moving to California.
Here’s how people in the state commute to work regularly:
California is one of the best places to live in the United States. Every year, thousands of people move in and out of California for several reasons.
Since you’re considering moving to California, here are the top ten reasons why people are moving to the Garden State:
California experiences a Mediterranean-like climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The daytime temperature hovers around 70℉ and up, but can occasionally spike to 80℉ or more on hottest summer days. The freezing temperatures are rare in California with the daily average in winter going between 4℉ and 23 ℉.
Hollywood is a synonym for the US movie industry, which is the largest in the world. Many of the largest movie studios, such as Paramount, Disney, Warner Bros, and Universal Pictures were found in this neighborhood of Los Angeles and most of the American movies are produced at studios here.
The global center for high technology and innovation, Silicon Valley is a region in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. A major financial hub of the country, Silicon Valley provides 225,300 high-tech jobs and some of the tech giants headquartered in Silicon Valley include Adobe Inc, Cisco Systems, Facebook, Intel, Tesla Inc, Synopsys, and Western Digital.
California ranks high in quality education and the state records one of the top annual enrolments in school. California boasts of some of the county’s top-notch colleges and schools.
Hollywood, the world’s entertainment capital, is in California. In addition, there are vibrant cities, beaches, amusement parks, and natural wonders spread all across the state. Some of the top-ranking entertainment options in California include:
Silicon Valley, Hollywood, unlimited tourism options – California’s job market is robust and ever-growing. About 53 of Fortune 500 companies call California their home and the unemployment rate in the state is very low in comparison to many other states.
With a booming job market, the chances of better pay are high in California. The average annual pay for the average job in California is $62,356 a year. The hourly pay for an average job is 29.98 per hour, which is much higher than the national average.
There is an incredible array and variety of beaches in California. Blessed with stunning scenery along the rugged Pacific coastline, there are hundreds of beaches in the state to pick from.
We have filtered out 10 beaches to spend your quality time on, sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, wakeboarding, surfing, and bodyboarding.
Home to Silicon Valley and Hollywood, there is no dearth of opportunities in California. About 50 Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in California and the state is also one of the most visited tourist destinations. All these factors contribute to the unlimited opportunities for everyone in the state.
From plenty of spectacular scenery from the wild waves of the Pacific to soaring mountain peaks, roaring rivers, and glistening lakes, California has a lot to offer outdoors.
Here are some of the adventures to try in Californian outdoors.
Unlimited economic opportunities, better package structure, pleasant weather, and never-ending entertainment outdoor environment – you have got reasons to move to California.
However, there are also some downsides to residing in this seemingly perfect state. What you really want to know is: Is California a good state to live in?
To help you, we’ve compiled some of the positives and negatives of the ‘Golden State’.
Before you make the final call, take a look at the top pros and cons of living in California.
Pros of living in California | Cons of living in California |
---|---|
California is naturally beautiful | Traffic is terrible in California |
The weather in California is awesome | California is susceptible to natural disaster |
California is a melting pot of various culture | California has a high cost of living |
People in California are happier | California has a high crime rate |
California has a booming entertainment industry | Lower healthcare quality |
Average salaries are higher in California | Higher taxes |
There are tons of exciting things to do in California | High property prices |
California is home to several beautiful beaches | Pollution |
Outdoor recreation options are endless in California | Overpopulation |
You’ll enjoy a better quality of life in California | Education is expensive in California |
California has strict environmental regulations | Weather is unpredictable |
Below average transportation | |
You’ll have to put up with too many laws |
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Moving to California means you can get the chance to live in some of the best places in the entire United States. Since you’re considering moving to California, here’s a list of the ten best places to live in California:
Rank | City | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Los Altos | 30,504 | 3.3% | $2,000,001 |
2 | Aliso Viejo | 50,663 | 3.7% | $632,900 |
3 | Los Altos Hills | 8,505 | 3.2% | $2,000,001 |
4 | Pacific Grove | 15,522 | 3.9% | $857,900 |
5 | Piedmont | 11,317 | 3.9% | $2,000,001 |
6 | Tiburon | 9,144 | 2.7% | $2,000,001 |
7 | Saratoga | 30,697 | 3.7% | $2,000,001 |
8 | Belmont | 27,097 | 3.2% | $1,527,500 |
9 | Cupertino | 60,257 | 3.6% | $1,711,300 |
10 | Palos Verdes Estates | 13,434 | 2.3% | $2,000,000 |
Moving To Los Angeles Guide | Moving To San Francisco Guide |
Moving To Chula Vista Guide | Moving To San Diego Guide |
Moving To Sacramento Guide | Moving To San Jose Guide |
Moving to Bakersfield, CA Guide |
California’s cost of living is rated 149.9. The national average is 100. That means the average cost of living in California is higher than the national average.
The cost of living is one of the key things to look at if you’re moving to California:
Cost of living | California | United States |
---|---|---|
Overall | 149.9 | 100 |
Grocery | 105.1 | 100 |
Health | 92.4 | 100 |
Housing | 239.1 | 100 |
Median Home Cost | $552,800 | $231,200 |
Utilities | 102.4 | 100 |
Transportation | 133.1 | 100 |
Miscellaneous | 103.7 | 100 |
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START MY QUOTECalifornia’s median home cost is $552,800. Over the last ten years, home appreciation in California has increased by 51.65. Currently, home values in the Golden state have risen by 5.2%.
If you’re considering renting a home after moving to California, renting a home can be a good housing option. Renters make up 41.4% of the state’s population. Here’s a breakdown of the average cost of renting a home in the Golden State:
If renting a home is a part of your housing option if you’re moving to California, here’s how the state’s rent compare to other states in the country:
Statistic | California | USA | % Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Average Rent | $2,800 | $1,650 | 69.7% |
Average $/sqft | $2.015 | $1.135 | 77.5% |
M-o-M Change | $0 | $0 | nan% |
Y-o-Y Change | $50 | $5 | 900.0% |
M-o-M % Change | 0.0% | 0.0% | -- |
Y-o-Y % Change | 1.8% | 0.3% | -- |
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California is home to 53 Fortune 500 companies and the state’s economy is rated as one of the largest in the world.
Home to the Silicon Valley, thousands of startups, and tech companies, California’s job market is always booming.
Moving to California can give you a better chance to earn higher pay. California is one of the states known for higher average pay across the board. Since you’re considering moving to California, here’s a breakdown of the average pay in the state:
Moving to California could mean working for some of the biggest companies in the world. Since you’re considering moving to California, here’s a list of the top ten largest companies in the state:
Rank | Company | City | Employees |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Concentrix | Fremont | 225,000 |
2 | The Walt Disney Company | Burbank | 201,000 |
3 | Taco Bell | Irvine | 175,000 |
4 | Safeway | Pleasanton | 137,000 |
5 | Gap | San Francisco | 135,000 |
6 | Apple | Cupertino | 132,000 |
7 | Kaiser Permanente | Oakland | 128,270 |
8 | SYNNEX | Fremont | 108,000 |
9 | PORAC | Sacramento | 107,653 |
10 | Intel | Santa Clara | 107,100 |
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START MY QUOTEIf you’re considering a career change after moving to California, we’ve made a list of the top career options in the state. Whether you’re considering investing or getting a new job, the list below is worth taking a look at since you’re considering moving to California:
Rank | Job Title | AVERAGE SALARY | ENTRY LEVEL SALARY | # OF PEOPLE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists | $248,100 | $115,900 | 3,650 |
2 | Psychiatrists | $236,930 | $122,570 | 3,560 |
3 | Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $236,730 | $114,320 | 1,540 |
4 | Nurse Anesthetists | $227,290 | $127,700 | 1,270 |
5 | Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons | $222,180 | $68,470 | 690 |
6 | Orthodontists | $220,410 | $57,970 | 420 |
7 | Chief Executives | $216,520 | $88,350 | 31,730 |
8 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $212,510 | $114,140 | 3,410 |
9 | Physicians, All Other; And Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $210,140 | $80,010 | 32,070 |
10 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers | $208,070 | $90,760 | 10,340 |
California’s unemployment rate is 4.40%. The national average is 3.70%. Here’s a breakdown of the state’s job market since you’re considering moving to California:
Employment Information | California | United States |
---|---|---|
The income per Cap | $33,128 | $31,177 |
Household Income | $67,169 | $57,652 |
Unemployment Rate | 4.40% | 3.70% |
Recent Job Growth | 1.31% | 1.59% |
Future Job Growth | 33.96% | 33.51% |
California’s massive and thriving economy is powered by several key industries. The Garden state is a powerhouse of several economic activities.
Taxes in California are rated among the highest in the United States.
Depending on where you’re moving from, moving to California will most likely mean paying a certain amount in taxes. Here’s a breakdown of taxes in California:
California is one of the most famous places on earth and the city is known for so many things. Since you’re considering moving to California, we’ve made a list of the key things the Golden State is known for. Check them out:
Once a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Hollywood is now the world capital of cinema and home to some of the largest movie studios, including Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Disney. Some of the big landmarks of cinema fall into the list of most visited places in the country. Apart from providing unlimited jobs to locals, Hollywood also brings big revenues to the national coffers.
No state in the US captures the essence of a carefree, sun-kissed lifestyle like California and the 800-mile coastline plays a major role in that. With about 100 beaches and more, it is almost possible to pick the best beach to surf, dive, swim, or soak in the sun.
California has 9 national parks, the most by any state. And each one with its unique appeal waits to embrace visitors year around. Here’s the list of national parks in California.
Situated 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, Alcatraz Island has an abandoned federal prison, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony. Now abandoned, Alcatraz Jail was infamous for its notorious inmates, including Al “Scarface” Capone and the “Birdman” Robert Stroud.
The fourth-largest city in California is the cultural, financial, and commercial center in northern California. Silicon Valley is in San Francisco that is home to some of the largest technology companies, including Adobe Inc, Jupiter Networks, Netflix, Nvidia, and PayPal.
Almost 90% of the wine in the US is produced in California, which is 30% more than the wine produced in Australia. The climate, ranging from abundant sunshine to cool coastal air, plus a variety of soils and terrain gives a personal touch to every wine produced in different parts of California. The different red wines from the state include outstanding ones like Pinot Noir and Zinfandel and even lesser-known varieties like Valdiguié.
From the wild water thrills of Splash Mountain in Disneyland to nostalgic big dippers and the Halloween-themed Knott’s Scary Farm, there’s never a dull moment at the finest theme parks in California.
Here’s a list of top-rated theme parks in California
Surfing is big in California. It is so big that for many, surfing is a way of life while for many, it is a spectator sport. Some of the best surfing beaches in California are:
Standing up to 378-feet tall, Redwood trees are the tallest, the biggest, and the oldest trees in the world and California is the only place where you can see them. They define the landscapes with mesmerizing heights and give a distinctive appearance.
A desert valley in Eastern California is one of the hottest places on the earth. It is notoriously hot in summer and got its name for its extreme climate that makes it difficult for normal living creatures to survive.
Fort Bragg is a picaresque city along the Pacific Coast and was once an exclusive army base but now turned into a tourist destination with many outdoor activities.
Californians are crazy about craft beer and the state has 968 craft beer breweries, the maximum in any US state. Some of the top craft beer brands in California to relish are:
Mammoth Lakes in Mono County has an amazing range of hot springs, all tucked inside serene surroundings. Naturally protected, these springs are hot destinations for those who aspire for solitude in the company of wilderness.
Some of the best hot springs to explore is:
California Casual or California Cool or just California Style is a decorating style that majors on neutral, soft colors on furniture and walls, furnishings that are inviting and comfortable, a relaxed boho feel enhanced by natural materials and fabrics, such as leather, wood, wool, cotton, and stone.
Hollywood, theme parks, sunshine, artisanal toasts – the specialties of California do not end here. Music festivals are another rage in California which hosts never-ending music nights year around.
Some of the best music fests to attend in California include:
Just as the state, the cuisine in California is also diverse. It’s a mix of fresh ingredients, vegetables, fresh cheeses, grilled meat, fish and seafood, nuts, an assortment of cross-cultural dishes influenced by other international cuisines: Mexican, Chinese & European.
Here are 7 dishes to relish in California
Crime rate is one of the key things to consider if you’re moving to California. Similar to several other large cities in the United States, California has its fair share of crime-related problems. Here are key stats to note since you’re moving to California:
This stat shows the violent crime rate in California:
Cases | Murder | Rape | Robbery | Assault |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report Total | 1,690 | 14,799 | 52,301 | 105,541 |
Rate per 1,000 | 0.04 | 0.37 | 1.32 | 2.67 |
Here’s a simple stat of California property crime rate:
Cases | Burglary | Theft | Motor Vehicle Theft |
---|---|---|---|
Report Total | 152,555 | 626,802 | 141,757 |
Rate per 1,000 | 3.86 | 15.86 | 3.59 |
Whether you have school-age kids or not, moving to California could mean living in some of the best school districts in the world.
California is home to some of the best schools in the entire world. from elementary, middle, high, colleges, and universities, moving to California mean you’ll have access to some of the best education on earth.
Since you’re considering moving to California, here are the best elementary, middle, and high schools in the state:
Valley View Elementary School
Glendale Unified School District, Public, K-6 | 450 students, Rating: 10/10
Hermosa View Elementary School
Hermosa Beach City Elementary School District, Public, K-3 | 563 students, Rating: 10/10
Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary School
Los Angeles Unified School District, Public, 1-5 | 746 students, Rating: 10/10
Grapeland Elementary School
Etiwanda Elementary School District, Public, K-5 | 586 students, Rating: 10/10
La Mariposa School
Pleasant Valley School District, Public, K-5 | 623 students, Rating: 10/10
University Preparatory School
Victor Valley Union High School District, Public, 7-12 | 1086 students, Rating: 10/10
Granite Ridge Intermediate School
Clovis Unified School District, Public, 7-8 | 1284 students, Rating: 10/10
Carmel Valley Middle School
San Dieguito Union High School District, Public, 7-8 | 1135 students, Rating: 10/10
Pacific Collegiate Charter School
Santa Cruz County Office Of Education School District, Charter, 7-12 | 549 students, Rating: 10/10
Ocsa
Santa Ana Unified School District, Charter, 7-12 | 2177 students, Rating: 10/10
Great Oak High School
Temecula Valley Unified School District, Public, 9-12 | 3161 students, Rating: 10/10
University Preparatory School
Victor Valley Union High School District, Public, 7-12 | 1086 students, Rating: 10/10
International Polytechnic High School
Los Angeles County Office Of Education School District, Public, 9-12 | 516 students, Rating: 10/10
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep School
Natomas Unified School District, Charter, 9-12 | 619 students, Rating: 10/10
Soar High (Students on Academic Rise) School
Antelope Valley Union High School District, Public, 9-12 | 427 students, Rating: 10/10
Stanford University - Stanford, CA
Pomona College - Claremont, CA
University of California-Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA
Soka University of America - Aliso Viejo, CA
University of California-Berkeley - Berkeley, CA
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA
Claremont McKenna College - Claremont, CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo - San Luis Obispo, CA
University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA
Pitzer College - Claremont, CA
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