The 25 Hippest Small Towns in California

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

1. 25Cayucos, California

   Hipper than 93% of California towns

   2,505 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $1,011,900 · income $87,235 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

2. 24Post Mountain, California

   Hipper than 93% of California towns

   3,032 people · Trinity County · median home — · income — · Jan low 34°F · 3 in snow

3. 23Montecito, California

   Hipper than 93% of California towns

   8,638 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $231,005 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

4. 22Sonoma State University, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

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

5. 21Mount Shasta, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

   3,223 people · Siskiyou County · median home $330,200 · income $47,917 · Jan low 27°F · 89 in snow

6. 20El Verano, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

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

7. 19Wrightwood, California

   Hipper than 94% of California towns

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

8. 18Crockett, California

   Hipper than 95% of California towns

   3,242 people · Contra Costa County · median home $776,100 · income $110,899 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

9. 17Sonora, California

   Hipper than 95% of California towns

   5,003 people · Tuolumne County · median home $422,300 · income $82,690 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

10. 16Yountville, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

    3,436 people · Napa County · median home $802,200 · income $80,342 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

11. 15East Pasadena, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

    6,021 people · Los Angeles County · median home $1,069,200 · income $109,136 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

12. 14Contra Costa Centre, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

    6,808 people · Contra Costa County · median home $733,300 · income $121,313 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

13. 13University of California-Santa Barbara, California

    Hipper than 96% of California towns

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

14. 12East Richmond Heights, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    3,460 people · Contra Costa County · median home $915,400 · income $134,632 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

15. 11Bishop, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    3,819 people · Inyo County · median home $386,400 · income $83,686 · Jan low 24°F

16. 10Pleasure Point, California

    Hipper 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

17. 9Fairfax, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

    7,605 people · Marin County · median home $1,163,600 · income $141,653 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

18. 8Capitola, California

    Hipper than 97% of California towns

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

19. 7Burbank, California

    Hipper than 98% of California towns

    4,940 people · Santa Clara County · median home $1,104,600 · income $134,518 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

20. 6Kensington, California

    Hipper than 98% of California towns

    5,428 people · Contra Costa County · median home $1,539,000 · income $237,130 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

21. 5University of California-Davis, California

    Hipper than 98% of California towns

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

22. 4Nevada City, California

    Hipper than 99% of California towns

    3,152 people · Nevada County · median home $677,400 · income $75,792 · Jan low 35°F · 15 in snow

23. 3Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

    Hipper than 99% of California towns

    3,220 people · Monterey County · median home $2,000,001 · income $129,250 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

24. 2Twin Lakes, California

    Hipper than 99% of California towns

    4,944 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $959,100 · income $90,087 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

25. 1Sausalito, California

    Hipper than 100% of California towns

    7,269 people · Marin County · median home $1,894,600 · income $182,357 · Jan low 47°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 Hippest Small Towns in America
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New Jersey