Best California Communities

In the 2025 rankings of Niche’s Best Places to live in America, several California communities were featured among the top 100 places!

Now in its 11th year, the rankings from this data-driven platform can help everyone from young people just starting their careers, families looking to relocate, to retirees deciding where they want to put down roots.

These following California locations were among the top 100:

#5: City Center, Santa Monica.

#21: Evergreen Park, Palo Alto

#49: University South, Palo Alto

#82: Ventura, Palo Alto

#94: Downtown Berkeley, Berkeley

Niche said it analyzed thousands of communities to compile this year’s ranking. Resources such as this can provide some in-depth information about locations, helping individuals make informed choices about where to live, based on preferences and needs.

And, no matter where you decide to live, if homeownership is part of your plan, then the smartest first action is to connect up with a trustworthy, licensed Lender. Understanding your financial qualifications upfront, can save time, prevent disappointment and can make your home search far more efficient! Once you get financially pre-qualified, working with a Real Estate agent becomes smoother—and getting into your next home becomes that much closer!

Ken & Ari Walker

Husband & Wife Team
Phone: 707‑708‑0797 / Office: 1400 N. Dutton Ave #22 Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Ken: CA DRE Broker #01858042 / NMLS #1221130
Ari: CA DRE #01858152 / NMLS #2170867

Ken & Ari are a husband & wife team with combined 3+ decades in real estate and private money industries. They own Pacific Direct Mortgage & Real Estate, specializing in Private Money loans (also known as Hard Money home loans). Having helped thousands of Borrowers & working directly with Brokers, Agents and Lenders to help when needed with fast, flexible, alternative financing for real estate purchases and refinances throughout California. No issues with DTI ratios, credit issues, property condition, difficult to prove income ‑ we want to help!