The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in California

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

1. 25Avalon, California

   Better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns

   3,460 people · Los Angeles County · median home $936,000 · income $105,139 · Jan low 50°F

2. 24Desert Palms, California

   Better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns

   6,686 people · Riverside County · median home $567,400 · income $79,792 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

3. 23Channel Islands Beach, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   2,870 people · Ventura County · median home $1,111,200 · income $107,380 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

4. 22Lake Nacimiento, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   2,956 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $504,200 · income $91,615 · Jan low 34°F · 0 in snow

5. 21Mount Shasta, California

   Better for a vacation home 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. 20Seacliff, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

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

7. 19Guerneville, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   4,552 people · Sonoma County · median home $600,600 · income $81,281 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

8. 18Lake Wildwood, California

   Better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns

   5,158 people · Nevada County · median home $551,800 · income $85,771 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

9. 17Borrego Springs, California

   Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

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

10. 16Kings Beach, California

    Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

    3,563 people · Placer County · median home $772,100 · income $68,153 · Jan low 13°F · 179 in snow

11. 15Indian Wells, California

    Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

    4,757 people · Riverside County · median home $1,078,200 · income $162,990 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

12. 14Running Springs, California

    Better for a vacation home than 95% of California towns

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

13. 13La Selva Beach, California

    Better for a vacation home 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

14. 12Arnold, California

    Better for a vacation home than 96% of California towns

    3,288 people · Calaveras County · median home $485,700 · income $92,467 · Jan low 30°F · 105 in snow

15. 11Idyllwild-Pine Cove, California

    Better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns

    4,163 people · Riverside County · median home $532,400 · income $73,678 · Jan low 31°F · 31 in snow

16. 10Cambria, California

    Better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns

    5,678 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $930,200 · income $99,147 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

17. 9Pismo Beach, California

    Better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns

    8,072 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $1,021,300 · income $118,072 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

18. 8Del Monte Forest, California

    Better for a vacation home than 98% of California towns

    4,204 people · Monterey County · median home $2,000,001 · income $142,763 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

19. 7Bear Valley Springs, California

    Better for a vacation home than 98% of California towns

    5,592 people · Kern County · median home $496,200 · income $120,481 · Jan low 32°F · 0 in snow

20. 6Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

    Better for a vacation home 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

21. 5Wrightwood, California

    Better for a vacation home 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

22. 4Cayucos, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% 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

23. 3Pepperdine University, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

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

24. 2Rancho Santa Fe, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

    3,156 people · San Diego County · median home $2,000,001 · income $175,792 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

25. 1Carmel Valley Village, California

    Better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns

    4,524 people · Monterey County · median home $1,275,500 · income $156,161 · Jan low 40°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 Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey