The 25 Best College Small Towns in California

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 358 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in California. #1 is University of California-Santa Barbara, CA.

1. 25Keyes, California

   More of a college town than 95% of California towns

   5,672 people · Stanislaus County · median home $344,100 · income $64,524 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

2. 24South Monrovia Island, California

   More of a college town than 95% of California towns

   6,515 people · Los Angeles County · median home $680,900 · income $104,444 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

3. 23Interlaken, California

   More of a college town than 95% of California towns

   7,368 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $831,000 · income $109,150 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

4. 22La Selva Beach, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   2,531 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,325,700 · income $160,833 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

5. 21Penngrove, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   2,637 people · Sonoma County · median home $1,196,000 · income $107,147 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

6. 20Coronita, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   2,639 people · Riverside County · median home $597,400 · income $111,932 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

7. 19Strawberry, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   5,447 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $157,661 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

8. 18Pleasure Point, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   5,821 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,183,600 · income $119,821 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

9. 17Boyes Hot Springs, California

   More of a college town than 96% of California towns

   6,215 people · Sonoma County · median home $783,300 · income $101,288 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

10. 16Montara, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    2,833 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,580,700 · income $233,826 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

11. 15Moss Beach, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    3,214 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,123,100 · income $99,680 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

12. 14Casa Conejo, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    3,267 people · Ventura County · median home $888,400 · income $147,616 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

13. 13Seacliff, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    3,280 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,143,600 · income $130,385 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

14. 12North El Monte, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    3,730 people · Los Angeles County · median home $863,400 · income $99,447 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

15. 11South San Gabriel, California

    More of a college town than 97% of California towns

    7,920 people · Los Angeles County · median home $690,400 · income $76,806 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

16. 10Aptos, California

    More of a college town than 98% of California towns

    6,664 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,093,300 · income $134,048 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

17. 9University of California-Davis, California

    More of a college town than 98% of California towns

    8,525 people · Yolo County · median home — · income $18,631 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

18. 8San Antonio Heights, California

    More of a college town than 99% of California towns

    3,441 people · San Bernardino County · median home $1,071,800 · income $138,750 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

19. 7El Verano, California

    More of a college town than 99% of California towns

    3,867 people · Sonoma County · median home $909,300 · income $123,738 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

20. 6Ivanhoe, California

    More of a college town than 99% of California towns

    4,468 people · Tulare County · median home $228,100 · income $52,179 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

21. 5Sonoma State University, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    2,679 people · Sonoma County · median home — · income — · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

22. 4Montalvin Manor, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    3,099 people · Contra Costa County · median home $438,600 · income $79,542 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

23. 3Kentfield, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    6,808 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $249,896 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

24. 2California Polytechnic State University, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    8,583 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $564,700 · income — · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

25. 1University of California-Santa Barbara, California

    More of a college town than 100% of California towns

    9,710 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $452,900 · income $69,327 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

Price vs ranking

More California rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in California
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New Jersey