The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 358 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in California, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Borrego Springs, CA.

1. 10Cutten, California

   Retirement: 74th percentile · January average low (°F): 57th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 80th percentile

   3,223 people · Humboldt County · median home $471,300 · income $97,225 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

2. 9Wilton, California

   Retirement: 83rd percentile · January average low (°F): 58th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

   5,958 people · Sacramento County · median home $926,200 · income $189,537 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

3. 8Vandenberg Village, California

   Retirement: 84th percentile · January average low (°F): 75th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 63rd percentile

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

4. 7Mission Hills, California

   Retirement: 63rd percentile · January average low (°F): 75th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 86th percentile

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

5. 6Needles, California

   Retirement: 55th percentile · January average low (°F): 86th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 90th percentile

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

6. 5Sage, California

   Retirement: 74th percentile · January average low (°F): 79th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

   3,370 people · Riverside County · median home $569,300 · income $119,938 · Jan low 44°F · 5 in snow

7. 4Gold River, California

   Retirement: 88th percentile · January average low (°F): 58th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 90th percentile

   7,844 people · Sacramento County · median home $724,400 · income $175,120 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

8. 3Desert Edge, California

   Retirement: 57th percentile · January average low (°F): 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 100th percentile

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

9. 2Pepperdine University, California

   Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 100th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

   2,747 people · Los Angeles County · median home $979,700 · income $199,432 · Jan low 50°F · 0 in snow

10. 1Borrego Springs, California

    Retirement: 96th percentile · January average low (°F): 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

    3,073 people · San Diego County · median home $402,700 · income $86,078 · Jan low 46°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 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in California

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
• The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New York With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Michigan With Mild Winters
• The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas With Mild Winters
• The 23 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey With Mild Winters
• The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Florida With Mild Winters
• The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin With Mild Winters
• The 11 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Ohio With Mild Winters
• The 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters