23 Best Neighborhoods to Live in CALIFORNIA (Updated)
When deciding to move to California, whether for vacation or proper residency, a lot of planning is required.
Choosing which neighborhood fits your needs and which you will be most comfortable in would be best.
California has countless neighborhoods, so making this choice of where to live or where to visit might take work.
However, knowing what you need and what kind of person you are can remotely translate to the neighborhood you want to live in.
Please keep reading to find out about neighborhoods in California, their unique attributes, and the ways they may or may not complement you to figure out the right choice.
And by the way, you may also want to check out some of the Ghost Towns of California.
Neighborhoods in Oakland, California
1. Rockridge (Thriving Commercial Hub)
This is one of the neighborhoods in Oakland, California, known for being a tremendous residential district and a commercial area.
It has once been listed as one of the best places to live and has many apartment buildings, which make it one of the neighborhoods that support retail and transportation.
The name Rockridge is from a quarry that was fully operating in the 1950s but is now part of the land owned by Claremont Country Club, a well-known country club in the neighborhood.
Rockridge is a thriving commercial area and home to over eighty retail stores, restaurants, and cafes.
It also has a branch of Oakland Public Library which has countless books for readers of all ages.
The transportation system in Rockridge is well developed using the Bay Area Rapid Transit, which regulates transportation in many areas in California.
Location: Oakland, California
2. Claremont Hills (Excellent School System)
Claremont Hills is a neighborhood in Oakland, California, known nationally for having many fun activities that people can do whether they live there or are just visiting.
Since the neighborhood is known for its excellent school system and tree-lined streets, many people, especially families with children like to settle in this neighborhood to give their kids the best possible education.
There are a lot of fun places to visit in Claremont Hills, including restaurants like Paragon, Limewood, and Antoinette restaurants where you can find many continental dishes.
Also, a wilderness park is very close to the neighborhood if you like the outdoors.
Although Claremont Hills is a relatively small neighborhood, it is home to a hotel that houses tourists visiting the area.
Location: Oakland, California
3. Adam’s Point (Proximity to Lakeside Park)
This neighborhood in Alameda County is known for housing Lakeside Park, one of the parks in California.
The Adam’s Point neighborhood is bounded on all sides by other neighborhoods like Grand Lake and Downtown and has a population of about 15,000.
Since the neighborhood is relatively small, only a few service providers and retail shops are available in Adam’s Point.
However, everything you need is usually within walking distance of the neighborhood, so you can enjoy living in a sparsely populated neighborhood with everything you need within your reach.
Situated close to Adam’s Point are notable places like the Grand Lake Theatre and Lake Merritt.
Budding local businesses in the neighborhood include Enssaro, an Ethiopian restaurant, and Jong Ga House, a Korean restaurant, among many others.
Location: Oakland, California
4. Piedmont Avenue (Historical Architecture & Parks)
This neighborhood is well known in California as a commercial district.
Since the neighborhood is also a residential district, it contains multiple schools, such as St. Leo the Great Catholic School and Piedmont Avenue Elementary School.
It is a quaint neighborhood with many historical architecture, restaurants, and shopping areas.
At Piedmont Avenue, you can enjoy visiting the nearby Oakland Zoo with your kids or the Fairyland, where children will have the time of their lives.
There are a lot of trails and parks which everyone of every age can enjoy hiking or just having a picnic.
Piedmont Theatre is a long-existing and still functioning theatre where you can watch things you love.
There are a lot of people who live here, such as dog-loving families and students.
Location: Oakland, California
Also see our article on Castles in California.
Neighborhoods in Sacramento, California
1. East Sacramento (Parks & Gardens Hub)
East Sacramento, fondly known as East Sac, is a neighborhood in Sacramento, California, known for its many parks and gardens.
It is the home of McKinley Park, a spectacular and beautiful garden that hosts regular events, film nights, and concerts.
East Sacramento is a great neighborhood to live in Sacramento, especially since it is Midtown, so it connects to every other place in Sacramento.
There are many houses in this neighborhood, and present conditions have called for the need for bigger homes, so many houses keep getting bigger.
Some fun places to hang out in this neighborhood are Kaukau, a Hawaiian restaurant that serves delicious food; the University of Beer, a family-friendly restaurant; and Mattone Ristorante, among many others.
Besides visiting restaurants, tourists and residents can visit different parks and gardens nearby.
Location: Sacramento, California
2. Land Park (Attractions & Yearly Events)
The Land Park neighborhood in Sacramento, which is home to a park that bears the same name, is one of the best places to live.
It contains many attractions, such as the Sacramento Zoo, William Land Park, various restaurants, and numerous ice cream parlors.
Many events in this neighborhood hold yearly, with at least one of them every month to keep the neighborhood lively.
These events include an International Kid’s Festival, a Shakespeare Festival, a Banana Festival, and a Race of the Arts, among many others.
The Funderland Amusement Park is another great attraction in Land Park, which children love.
There are many activities for individuals to participate in the parks in the neighborhood, including jogging, fishing, barbecuing, picnicking, and many other fun activities.
Location: Sacramento, California
3. Midtown (Diverse Cultural District)
Midtown is a diverse district that ranges for different individuals.
There are many trendy dining options and hip bar options, so no matter your style, you can find an activity that is the right fit for you.
The neighborhood is home to a historic park named Sutter’s Fort State Historical Park and the State Indian Museum.
With the park and the museum, visitors can see a recreated version of the 1800s and understand the relocation of pioneers.
Even though this is a residential community, a lot of historic architecture and features make the neighborhood rich in history as well.
The neighborhood’s diversity runs through more than people’s styles but also the races in the neighborhood and the income brackets of people living there.
Location: Sacramento, California
4. Meadowview (Southern Area Community)
This neighborhood is in one of the Southern areas of Sacramento and is home to many schools in the Sacramento district.
The neighborhood, which initially started as a haven for a few mixed races’ families, has grown to become a neighborhood for all kinds of Americans.
Meadowview is relatively safe to live in, and asides from being a neighborhood, it also offers a sense of community to all its residents.
Some schools in this neighborhood include John Bidwell, Make Hopkins, Freeport, John D Sloat, Edward Kemble, and many others under the Sacramento City Unified School District.
Many notable celebrities have come out from this area, including Kevin Galloway, a professional basketball player; LeVar Burton, an actor; X-raided, a rapper and many others.
Location: Sacramento, California
Also see our article on National Parks in California.
Neighborhoods in San Diego, California
1. Carlsbad (Legoland & Coastal Attractions)
Carlsbad is a neighborhood known for many fun activities, such as a state Beach, a Surf Beach, and a sea wall.
It is the home of the California Legoland and is a place that tourists with children love to visit.
Legoland has many rides, a sea life aquarium, and a water park.
There is also a historic park in Carlsbad called Carrillo Ranch Historical Park, home to many peacocks and other wildlife.
Places to visit in Carlsbad include The Flower Fields, Legoland, Oceanside Municipal Fishing Pier, and other fun and exciting places.
Since the neighborhood is on the coast, it is a popular place to visit because of the beach.
There are also a lot of tourist attractions that attract tourists from all over the world.
Location: San Diego, California
2. Del Mar (Charming Coastal Living)
Del Mar is a coastal neighborhood located by the Pacific Ocean; since it is by a beach, it is a popular tourist attraction in California.
Aside from being a charming beach, the small neighborhood was designed for the wealthy population, so there is less diversity in the area.
One of the world’s rarest plant species, the Torrey Palm Tree, occurs naturally in this neighborhood and even has a beach named Torrey Pines State Beach.
Other attractions in Del Mar include a racetrack called Del Mar Racetrack that functions at least once a year.
There is also the San Diego County Fair, an antique show called Del Mar Antique Show that holds about three times yearly on the Fairgrounds at Del Mar.
Another Beach, fondly known as Dog Beach, is another less famous Beach in the neighborhood.
Location: San Diego, California
3. Downtown (Cultural Hub & Attractions)
Downtown in San Diego is San Diego’s cultural hub, and rightly so, the neighborhood has many lively attractions with diverse cultural affiliations.
The Gasland Quarter is a historic site known for having a lively bar and dining scene.
Also, there is Little Italy, with all its Italian restaurants with delicious food.
There is a civic center for operas and plays for residents and tourists to enjoy.
Ships on the ocean double as museums and libraries that residents can enjoy the content of while they visit the place.
The Museum of contemporary art contains some contemporary art pieces, even those as recent as the twentieth century.
Downtown is a commercial neighborhood, so the layout of streets is very gridlike and labeled for easy access.
Location: San Diego, California
4. Mira Mesa (Community History & Schools)
This neighborhood in California is known for its unique history that features Mexicans and Native Americans.
It is now well known for its female softball team, which won national competitions in 1995, 2005, and 2006.
Also, the neighborhood has a street fair which is sponsored by the Mira Mesa Council; this fair is held annually in the neighborhood boulevard, and it brings the region’s populace together.
The education system in Mira Mesa is under the San Diego Unified School District, and it contains elementary schools, middle schools, a high school, some private schools, and a community college called Miramar College.
Among the many infrastructures available in the neighborhood, some notable ones are The Fire Station, The Police Department, and many other buildings for the benefit of people in Mira Mesa.
Location: San Diego, California
Also see our article on Beaches in California.
Neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California
1. Central L.A (Diverse Historical District)
This urban neighborhood in Los Angeles is known to be a historic district that houses a lot of places with historical backgrounds.
Although it is a neighborhood because of its large size, it contains smaller neighborhoods such as Little Tokyo, Hollywood, LA Fashion District, and Chinatown.
Each neighborhood has its allure and the specific thing they are known for.
As such, Central L. A is a very diverse neighborhood with many neighborhoods in it.
Many of the neighborhoods in Central L. A rare historical site containing landmarks and points of interest.
It is a fantastic place to enjoy shopping and delicacies from different cultures in the same city.
You could experience Japan, Korea, and China through their cuisine while being in America.
Location: Los Angeles, California
2. Downtown Los Angeles (Business Hub & Parks)
This is the primary business area of Los Angeles, and just like Central L.A, it contains a lot of smaller neighborhoods that each have their appeal.
The smaller neighborhoods in Downtown include Art District, Bunker Hill, Civic Centre, South Park, Toy District, and many others.
Many of these neighborhoods were named after the significant activities in the place when they were first established.
There are many open spaces and parks in Downtown Los Angeles, and some of them include the Garden at the Bank of America Plaza, Walt Disney community park, Los Angeles Plaza, Grand Park, etc.
Since this neighborhood is a commercial district, there are many places where you can get office space, no matter the kind of office space that you need.
Also, some well-renowned companies have their head office in Downtown Los Angeles because of its benefits of being a majorly business area.
Location: Los Angeles, California
3. West Hollywood (Celebrity Scene Extension)
This neighborhood was named West Hollywood for being the city in the west of Hollywood, and this name was incorporated in 1984.
Since it is close to Hollywood, the world’s movie capital, West Hollywood is known for its buzzing parties and crazy nightlife.
It is an extension of the Hollywood scene, which is not precisely Hollywood itself, so it is a place where celebrities can hide away without being too far from the central Hollywood life.
West Hollywood is a very trendy environment that features many comedy Clubs, trendy restaurants, and bars on every corner you turn to.
It is a perfect place to enjoy a vacation if you want to pretend to be a celebrity for a few weeks but do not have the luxury of being in actual Hollywood.
At West Hollywood, you get to taste what Hollywood itself feels like.
Location: Los Angeles, California
4. Silver Lake (Trendy Residential Lifestyle)
This residential neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, fully integrates the funky lifestyle with its trendy boutiques and bars with the average lifestyle with vegan cafes and Asian restaurants.
It was named after a politician, Hermann Silver, president of the Los Angeles City Council in 1900.
The silver lake neighborhood has a lot of attraction sites for tourists to visit, and even though there are not any monuments or parks in this little neighborhood, it still has its appeal through some beautiful tourist attractions.
Some attractions include the Silver Lake Reservoir, the famous Silver Lake Outdoor Stairs, and many other places to watch or witness exciting events.
Countless restaurants in the neighborhood and many foreign meals are available, so you can spend time experiencing these different cultures through their food.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Also see our article on Aquariums in California.
Neighborhoods in San Jose, California
1. Japantown (Authentic Japanese Experience)
Do you want to authentically experience Japan without leaving the United States?
Then, Japantown in San Jose is the place you have to visit.
Entering this neighborhood is like entering an entirely different world because you enjoy another culture altogether different from what you are used to.
The authenticity of San Jose’s Japantown lies in the fact that you get to meet many Asian people who have an actual relationship with Japan and can exemplify the culture very well.
You get to experience authentic Japanese cuisine in Japanese-style restaurants, Japanese-themed clothing shops, and gift shops, so you feel like you went to Japan after buying Japanese souvenirs.
The neighborhood has a Japanese American museum that explains the Japanese culture to America, so you can also learn a bit about Japanese history.
Location: San Jose, California
2. Little Italy (Italian Culture & Cuisine)
Little Italy is one of the neighborhoods in San Jose that still stands today and was the first place that Italian immigrants settled when they came to America.
Although small, the neighborhood is still home to many Italian immigrants who have now made a place for themselves in San Jose.
The neighborhood is the best place to find the barely diluted Italian culture and find and eat delicious Italian meals.
In Little Italy, visitors can enjoy a great barbecue and other touristy things like in real Italy.
One of the cornerstones of Little Italy is the restaurant called Paesano Ristorante Italiano which is strategically located just by the welcome sign to the neighborhood.
A cultural center and museum will soon be in the neighborhood to tell more about the neighborhood’s cultural significance.
Location: San Jose, California
3. Little Portugal (Rich Historical Background)
This neighborhood in San Jose is known for its rich historical background and being the center of many Portuguese businesses in the United States.
It is home to many Portuguese social organizations, including bakeries, markets, restaurants, and others.
Visiting the Little Portugal neighborhood is a quick and easy way to experience the Portuguese culture without going far away.
This neighborhood has a historical museum, an exact replica of a vital chapel in Portugal.
The first restaurant in San Jose to receive a Michelin star was a Portuguese-themed restaurant in Little Portugal called Adega.
It is a fun place to experience a rich history and beautiful architecture.
There is a lot of traditional Portuguese cuisine available in this neighborhood for diverse people and cultures.
Location: San Jose, California
4. Mayfair (Mexican Heritage & Landmarks)
This neighborhood in California is mainly populated by Mexican Americans, also known as Chicanos.
It is a historic neighborhood in San Jose that is situated in a district called Alum Rock.
In Mayfair, there is an annual fair that celebrates the community and its Mexican heritage.
The neighborhood has two elementary schools: the San Antonio elementary school and the Cesar Chavez elementary school.
Multiple plazas are in the Mayfair neighborhood, some of which are Mayfair Park, Mayfair Community Gardens, Mayfair Skatepark, the Zolezzi Park, among many others.
This neighborhood also has famous landmarks known throughout San Jose, like the Cesar Chavez Memorial Walkway.
With its rich cultural history and regular ceremonies and festivals, Mayfair is a great place to visit and immerse in such great cultural heritage.
Location: San Jose, California
Also see our article on Hidden Gems in California.
Neighborhoods in Stockton, California
1. Weston Ranch (Luxury & Convenience Mix)
This residential neighborhood in Stockton, California, is a top choice among homeowners to purchase and own real estate.
The schools in the district are under MOSD, Manteca Organised School District, which is devoted to ensuring that students can get a meaningful and aligned learning process in their academic journey.
High schools in the neighborhood include schools like New Vision and Weston Ranch High School.
There are three elementary schools in the area: Great Valley Elementary School, George Y Komure Elementary School, and August Knodt Elementary School.
Since there are a variety of shopping locations, like restaurants and fancy shops, Weston Ranch is an excellent neighborhood to start a home and begin a family.
This perfect neighborhood brings every resident a perfect mix of luxury and convenience.
Location: Stockton, California
2. Bear Creek (Affordable Real Estate)
Bear Creek neighborhood is a great residential area to consider if you are moving to California.
The neighborhood features some of Stockton’s best and most affordable real estate options and has excellent air and controlled noise levels.
Many great schools in the Bear Creek neighborhood, such as Bear Creek High School.
Children-friendly parks are available for children to play in and for parents to network.
Since there are many places to visit and activities to do, individuals can enjoy not being bored outside their work since there are still things they can enjoy.
Also, there are many fun areas, such as restaurants and shopping areas, that residents of Bear Creek can enjoy visiting with their families.
Since the neighborhood has a suburban feel to it, you get to experience living in a suburban that still has some commercial buildings in it.
Location: Stockton, California
3. Civic Centre (Downtown Entertainment Hub)
Civic Center is the Downtown of Stockton, and it contains many fun places to enjoy.
It is home to Stockton Arena, an entertainment hub that residents and visitors enjoy.
Haggin Museum is a quaint educational building that educates and captivates people with its rich collection of American historical art.
Aside from visiting the Haggin Museum and the Stockton area, you can also visit many places, like the University Park World Peace Rose Garden.
This stunning rose garden was built to maintain peace across all world nations.
There are many restaurants and bars in the area, including Genova Bakery, known for its Italian bread and sandwiches; Misaki Sushi and Bar, a Japanese restaurant known for its delicious sushi; Papa Urb’s Grill, a Filipino restaurant, among many others.
Location: Stockton, California
If you liked this article, you may also like to read about the best Alpaca Farms, Weekend Getaways, and Mountains in California.
Looking beyond California? Check out our article on the Neighborhoods in Texas.