Most Affordable Cities in California

The lowest cost of living across home prices, rent, services and rent burden.

Retirees Remote Workers Families Young Professionals Affordability All Rankings →
All United States  ·  California

How We Score

Each metric is normalized 0-100 across U.S. cities, then weighted and summed. Cities missing any metric are excluded.

Home Prices · 30% Rent · 20% Cost Index · 25% Rent Burden · 15% Jobs · 10%

Top 12 Affordability Cities in California

Ranked by composite score across 5 weighted metrics.

#1
Score 68.3
Rancho Tehama Reserve, CA
1,102 residents
Home Prices $149,000
Rent $939
Cost Index 111
#2
Score 67.3
Searles Valley, CA
1,698 residents
Home Prices $68,500
Rent $809
Cost Index 111
#3
Score 66.1
Desert Edge, CA
3,642 residents
Home Prices $56,900
Rent $821
Cost Index 111
#4
Score 65.5
Hayfork, CA
3,198 residents
Home Prices $291,300
Rent $808
Cost Index 111
#5
Score 64.2
Ivanhoe, CA
4,397 residents
Home Prices $234,200
Rent $914
Cost Index 111
#6
Score 64.2
Lone Pine, CA
1,373 residents
Home Prices $192,800
Rent $784
Cost Index 111
#7
Score 64
Lost Hills, CA
1,861 residents
Home Prices $169,900
Rent $839
Cost Index 111
#8
Score 62.8
Oasis, CA
4,455 residents
Home Prices $35,600
Rent $846
Cost Index 111
#9
Score 62.7
North Shore, CA
3,373 residents
Home Prices $193,000
Rent $1,362
Cost Index 111
#10
Score 62.2
Hamilton City, CA
2,295 residents
Home Prices $278,800
Rent $865
Cost Index 111
#11
Score 62.2
Casa Loma, CA
1,836 residents
Home Prices $224,100
Rent $822
Cost Index 111
#12
Score 62
Goshen, CA
4,895 residents
Home Prices $244,800
Rent $1,101
Cost Index 111

Full Ranking, California

Top 50 cities. Click any city to see its full profile.

1 Rancho Tehama Reserve CA 68.3
2 Searles Valley CA 67.3
3 Desert Edge CA 66.1
4 Hayfork CA 65.5
5 Ivanhoe CA 64.2
6 Lone Pine CA 64.2
7 Lost Hills CA 64
8 Oasis CA 62.8
9 North Shore CA 62.7
10 Hamilton City CA 62.2
11 Casa Loma CA 62.2
12 Goshen CA 62
13 Susanville CA 61.8
14 Burney CA 61.8
15 Poplar-Cotton Center CA 61.8
16 Mecca CA 61.7
17 Silver Lakes CA 60.8
18 Big River CA 60.7
19 Lenwood CA 60.7
20 Hydesville CA 60.5
21 Richgrove CA 60.4
22 East Quincy CA 60.4
23 China Lake Acres CA 60.4
24 Camanche Village CA 60.4
25 Auberry CA 60.3
26 Mesa Verde CA 60.2
27 Holtville CA 60.2
28 Squaw Valley CA 60.2
29 Le Grand CA 60.1
30 Santa Nella CA 60
31 Taft CA 60
32 Palo Cedro CA 59.9
33 Maxwell CA 59.9
34 Calipatria CA 59.8
35 Bishop CA 59.8
36 Weaverville CA 59.8
37 Thermal CA 59.6
38 Hoopa CA 59.5
39 Benton Park CA 59.5
40 Coalinga CA 59.5
41 Blythe CA 59.4
42 Del Rey CA 59.3
43 Woodville CA 59.2
44 Redway CA 59.2
45 North Edwards CA 59.2
46 Anza CA 59.1
47 Planada CA 59.1
48 Home Garden CA 59.1
49 Ridgecrest CA 59.1
50 Cabazon CA 59.1

Rancho Tehama Reserve, CA tops the list with a composite score of 68.3 out of 100, followed by Searles Valley and Desert Edge. CA dominates the top 12 with 12 cities, reflecting strong performance across the weighted metrics for affordability.

Rankings combine 5 independent metrics: Home Prices, Rent, Cost Index, Rent Burden, Jobs. Cities are weighted to reflect what matters most to affordability, and any city missing one or more metrics is excluded to avoid artificially inflated rankings.

Explore Other Best Cities Rankings

Best Cities for Retirees
Low crime, warm climate, affordable cost of living and strong healthcare access.
Best Cities for Remote Workers
Strong broadband, affordable rent, low traffic and existing remote-work culture.
Best Cities for Families
Strong schools, low crime, affordable homes and family-friendly commutes.
Best Cities for Young Professionals
High incomes, educated peers, transit access and an under-35 demographic.

Related Single-Metric Rankings

Lowest Rent → Lowest Income → Safest Cities →