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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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California, with its stunning landscapes and year-round sunny weather, makes for a desirable destination for seniors ready to say goodbye to the grind.
A recent analysis by Retirement Living, a platform offering retirement planning services, identified the 10 most retiree-friendly cities for those considering spending their golden years in the Golden State.
The list, which takes into account affordability, senior population, climate, health care access and recreation, steers away from California's biggest cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, embracing instead suburban calm and lower housing costs.
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1. Roseville
Roseville, a suburban paradise located just outside Sacramento, has several key selling points for retirees. With nearly 19 percent of its 160,000 residents aged 65 and above, the city already has a thriving senior community ready to embrace newcomers.
While not cheap by most standards, the city has a median home price of $635,000—much lower than the state average of $859,700, according to Redfin data. Rent, on the other hand, is one of the most expensive options on the list, with a median price of $2,158.
However, people in Roseville are doing relatively well: the poverty rate, at 5.6 percent, is also significantly lower than the state level, 11.3 percent, suggesting that residents don't struggle to make ends meet.
2. Oceanside
Many retirees dream of waking up every day with a beautiful ocean view, and that's what Oceanside, located in San Diego County, has to offer. The city already has a significant senior community, with 20 percent of its residents aged 65 and older.
The median home price stands at $850,000—still below the state median—while the average rent is $2,293. Possibly due to its higher housing costs, Oceanside's poverty rate is slightly higher than Roseville's, at 8.3 percent.
3. Torrance
Torrance is close enough to Los Angeles to make residents feel like they are never too far away from the comforts of the metropolis while avoiding its chaos, crowds and daily traffic.
Retirees clearly appreciate the city, with residents aged 65 and above accounting for 21.6 percent of its total population—the highest percentage of seniors on Retirement Living's list.
This is not a retirement paradise that everyone can afford, however. Torrance's median home price, at $1.3 million, is definitely on the high side. Rent is around $2,049.
Despite its high housing costs, the city has a poverty rate of 7.3 percent, which is still lower than the state average.
4. Vacaville
Vacaville, in Solano County, stands out for offering more affordable housing options compared to the Bay Area, along with community amenities and a moderate cost of living.
The median home sale price in the city is $637,500, and the average rent is approximately $2,155 per month. Thanks to its proximity to Sacramento, Vacaville is a great option for retirees who want to live in a relatively small community while having access to the essential care services and comforts of a bigger city.
5. Richmond
Not too far from San Francisco, Richmond makes for a great option for retirees who want to live in the Bay Area without the hassles of the big city or its intimidating prices.
The median sale price of a home in the city is $569,500—much lower than in San Francisco—and the median rent price is an affordable (for the area) $1,814 a month.
However, the city has the highest poverty rate in Retirement Living's list, at 10.8 percent, suggesting that local services may not be as good as those offered by some of the other destinations.
6. Modesto
For those with a tighter budget, Modesto offers some of the best housing prices in the state. The median sale price of a typical home in the Central Valley city is $457,600, while rent is about $1,645.
However, the city is not particularly popular among retirees, as only 16.2 percent of residents are 65 or older. Modesto's 12 percent poverty rate also "suggests that the area is facing some economic challenges that could impact everything from public services to long-term stability," Retirement Living experts said.
7. Santa Rosa
In the heart of California's Wine Country, Santa Rosa is an excellent option for those seeking natural beauty and local culture. Not by chance, 20.6 percent of its population is already represented by residents aged 65 and above.
However, housing is not cheap, with the median home sale price at around $745,000 and median rent at $2,072. Additionally, the poverty rate is higher than average, at 11.4 percent. This may affect how well local infrastructure is maintained or how much your monthly expenses increase over time.
8. Thousand Oaks
The Santa Monica Mountains frame the beautiful city of Thousand Oaks, offering peace and quiet. The area has a strong senior community, at 20.6 percent of its total population, and its poverty rate is low at 6.4 percent.
But the cost of housing makes the city only affordable for those with larger pockets; the median home price is over $1.1 million, and the median rent is $2,743, the highest on the list.
9. Simi Valley
Simi Valley, located in Ventura County, is another option for retirees seeking small-town charm and natural beauty. The cost of housing, however, is again a sticking point: the median sale price of a home is $855,00, while the median rent price is $2,406.
10. Vallejo
Vallejo is ideal for retirees who want to live in the Bay Area but cannot afford a San Francisco price tag. Median home prices are around $537,500, and median rent is about $1,981. But the poverty rate in the city is the highest on the list, at 12.3 percent, suggesting that public services may be less reliable.
Despite those concerns, 18.3 percent of Vallejo's residents are seniors.
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