The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California

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

1. 25Rexland Acres, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   3,563 people · Kern County · median home $200,200 · income $56,078 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

2. 24Harbison Canyon, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   4,048 people · San Diego County · median home $688,600 · income $130,302 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

3. 23Lucerne Valley, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   5,331 people · San Bernardino County · median home $269,100 · income $54,788 · Jan low 24°F · 38 in snow

4. 22Benton Park, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

   5,333 people · Kern County · median home $240,600 · income $49,717 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

5. 21Pleasure Point, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns

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

6. 20Frazier Park, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   2,592 people · Kern County · median home $371,600 · income $47,930 · Jan low 39°F · 3 in snow

7. 19Borrego Springs, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   3,073 people · San Diego County · median home $402,700 · income $86,078 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

8. 18Mission Hills, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   3,571 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $492,900 · income $111,974 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

9. 17Lenwood, California

   Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

   3,623 people · San Bernardino County · median home $194,300 · income $78,958 · Jan low 35°F · 0 in snow

10. 16Silver Lakes, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    6,317 people · San Bernardino County · median home $383,600 · income $115,829 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

11. 15Garnet, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    7,118 people · Riverside County · median home $267,900 · income $72,694 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

12. 14Thousand Palms, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    7,967 people · Riverside County · median home $268,700 · income $77,000 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

13. 13Capitola, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns

    9,938 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $783,000 · income $102,976 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

14. 12Caruthers, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    2,613 people · Fresno County · median home $334,300 · income $88,021 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

15. 11Homestead Valley, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    2,789 people · San Bernardino County · median home $245,900 · income $45,323 · Jan low 42°F · 1 in snow

16. 10Crest, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    2,828 people · San Diego County · median home $724,500 · income $110,000 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

17. 9Wrightwood, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    4,720 people · San Bernardino County · median home $470,700 · income $74,332 · Jan low 26°F · 62 in snow

18. 8Needles, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    4,931 people · San Bernardino County · median home $157,200 · income $38,243 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

19. 7Buellton, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    5,161 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $837,400 · income $99,936 · Jan low 34°F · 0 in snow

20. 6Running Springs, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    5,268 people · San Bernardino County · median home $385,000 · income $81,516 · Jan low 29°F · 22 in snow

21. 5Cherry Valley, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    6,509 people · Riverside County · median home $408,000 · income $76,895 · Jan low 40°F · 10 in snow

22. 4Vandenberg Village, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    7,308 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $637,100 · income $110,904 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

23. 3Guadalupe, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns

    8,057 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $495,600 · income $66,930 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

24. 2Desert Edge, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of California towns

    4,180 people · Riverside County · median home $76,300 · income $37,429 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

25. 1Joshua Tree, California

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of California towns

    6,489 people · San Bernardino County · median home $334,200 · income $66,291 · Jan low 38°F · 1 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 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in California

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Ohio
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois