{"id":20856,"date":"2023-04-18T09:18:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T13:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=20856"},"modified":"2024-06-27T16:04:49","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T20:04:49","slug":"best-california-cities-for-zillennials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/city-guides\/best-california-cities-for-zillennials\/","title":{"rendered":"Best California Cities for Zillennials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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California’s calling! Check out the best CA cities for Zillennials.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

California has beckoned to artists,\nenvironmentalists, money makers, stars, and free spirits alike since it was\nnamed the 31st state in 1850 \u2013 and probably well before that too. The Golden\nState seems to offer something to everyone, and certainly every new generation\nof young professionals. And they\u2019re\ndefinitely not the only ones who want to live in\nCalifornia. After all, it wouldn\u2019t have the highest number of residents\nof any state in the U.S. if it didn\u2019t have plenty to recommend it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing California is not, however, is top of the list of the most affordable places to live. And it has suffered a population drop because of it. However, all is certainly not lost. ‘Zillennials’<\/a> (loosely defined as those born between 1993 and 1998), in particular, are still flocking to California cities for young people. While they are much more price-sensitive than generations before them due to student loan debt coupled with the high cost of living, the cheapest California cities recognize this \u2013 and are working to make themselves as appealing as possible to the zillennial micro-generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the best California cities for zillennials? Keep scrolling for our top five picks for cool, cheap, and affordable places to hang your hat \u2013 and make your mark \u2013 in the beautiful state of California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillennial Cities: California Edition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are almost 1600 California cities for zillennials (or anyone else!) to choose from, so buckle up for our selections of small cities, big cities, and in-between cities for our top Zillennial Cities: California Edition! If you were born in the mid-90s and are ready to see which California cities for young people should top your list, you are in the right spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Diego<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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With a low median resident age, San Diego has become a mecca for young transplants.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

San Diego is considered by many to be the best of the\nbest. The combination of a glorious climate with beautiful beaches, ample job\nopportunities, and a relatively low crime rate make\nit quite clear why it\u2019s referred to as \u201cAmerica\u2019s Finest City.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s not one of the cheapest cities in the world, zillennials love it\nbecause of its low median age (34.9), easy access to Mexico, and impressive\nfood scene. Beachfront neighborhoods like eclectic Ocean Beach or lively\nPacific Beach compete with stylish enclaves like North Park for zillennials\u2019\nrent and entertainment dollars, but there are many neighborhoods to choose from\n\u2013 each with its own set of pros and cons. Regardless of where they end up\nwithin the city borders, however, zillennials interested in getting out into\nnature for entertainment and exercise would be hard pressed to find lovelier\nsand and surf than in San Diego. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santa Clara, Silicon Valley<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Looking for a tech job? Check out Santa Clara.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

No list of California\ncities for zillennials would be complete without mentioning Santa Clara, a safe and welcoming \u201curban suburb\u201d\nlocated 45 minutes south of the Bay Area in\nthe heart of Silicon Valley. While most\ndefinitely not one of the cheapest places to live,\nthe city is nonetheless full of young people.\nFormerly a Spanish mission, Santa Clara is\nthriving thanks in part to the high salaries commanded by its tech workers. In\nfact, the area is known to have the most millionaires and billionaires in the\ncountry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillennials looking for the prestige and\npaychecks of a career in tech will feel right at home in Santa Clara, though we would be remiss not to\nmention the steep cost of living in the area. The sacrifice may be more than\nmade up, however, by the availability of high-paying jobs, the area\u2019s amazing\nMediterranean climate, easy access to San Francisco, and proximity to hundreds\nof area wineries. As one of the top California\ncities for young people, Santa Clara can\u2019t compete with small town home prices in other areas \u2013 but the\nhuge amount of opportunity it offers goes far in making up for its cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

San\nFrancisco, Bay Area<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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San Francisco has attracted younger generations for decades.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About 60 miles north of Santa Clara lies \u201cThe City by the Bay\u201d \u2013 beautiful, elite, and costly San Francisco. Though it could never be called one of the cheapest California cities, the gem of the Bay Area has nonetheless attracted up-and-comers for generations. Today, Gen Z (and its zillennial counterparts) are moving to the area more than any other group<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to shopping, dining,\nentertainment, and job opportunities, there is little the Bay Area lacks. The dense urban population is set\noff by beautiful ocean and mountain views,\nstreet art, parades and festivals, farmers markets, historic homes, and\nbeautiful parks. The LGBTQ community is also at the heart of San Francisco, and\nhas been since at least World War II, which certainly adds to the city\u2019s\nwelcoming vibe and expansive array of cultural activities. As Rudyard Kipling\nwrote, \u201cSan Francisco has only one drawback \u2013 it\u2019s hard to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irvine,\nOrange County<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Have you heard of the OC?
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While Irvine in Orange\nCounty is primarily known as a city for well-to-do families, its\ncentralized location means it\u2019s less than two hours from skiing, surfing,\nmountain biking, and diving locations. It\u2019s important to note, however, that\nIrvine has no bars or clubs to speak of. While young\npeople may find this lack of nightlife a drawback, it is close enough to\nNewport Beach, Tustin, and Costa Mesa to scratch those itches without too much\nof a hassle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason we chose Irvine as one of the best California cities for zillennials is its safety,\nclimate, and unbeatable proximity to some of the most outstanding beaches and\noutdoor areas in the country. The city is well-maintained and family-friendly,\nwhich is also a draw for more-established zillennials looking to settle down.\nWhile somewhat lacking in culture and entertainment, the city keeps a pulse on\nyounger generations through its bustling UC Irvine campus and proximity to both\nSan Diego and Los Angeles.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sacramento<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Lower home prices and national parks drive a younger crowd to Sacramento.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last (but certainly not least) is Sacramento, the capital of California and a definite draw for zillennial hipsters and young people in search of careers. With median home prices among the lowest in the state, and relatively quick commute to Lake Tahoe and many national parks, Sacramento is slowly shedding its gritty image for a more polished and professional feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the top draws for zillennials and other\nyoung people is the city\u2019s brewery, winery,\nand coffee scenes \u2013 all of which are key to the city\u2019s vibrant feel. Sacramento\nis also known for its diversity, low cost of living\n(relative to California, of course \u2013 it\u2019s still more than 20% higher than the\nnational average), professional sports teams, and premiere educational\nofferings. While maybe it\u2019s not yet<\/em>\ntopping the list of California cities for\nzillennials, Sacramento is nonetheless an extremely worthwhile locale\nfor young people \u2013 and the activities they love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There you have it: our official list of the\nbest California cities for young people \u2013\nzillennials in particular. While each offers its own pluses and drawbacks, you\ncan be certain that settling down in any of them for the short- or long-term\nwould be an adventure worth having. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did we miss any of your faves? Check out the resources below for more info and advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Neighborhoods in LA: The CubeSmart Moving Guide<\/em><\/a> \u2013 CubeSmart.com<\/strong>
The Best Places for Young Adults to Live in California<\/em><\/a> \u2013 California.com
<\/strong>2022 Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in California<\/em><\/a> \u2013 Niche.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

California has beckoned to artists, environmentalists, money makers, stars, and free spirits alike since it was named the 31st state in 1850 \u2013 and probably well before that too. The Golden State seems to offer something to everyone, and certainly every new generation of young professionals. And they\u2019re definitely not the only ones who want […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":24218,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1145],"tags":[1842,1843,1844],"class_list":["post-20856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-guides","tag-california-cities-for-young-people","tag-california-cities-for-zillennials","tag-zillennial-cities"],"yoast_head":"\r\nBest California Cities for Zillennials | The Storage Space<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to relocate? 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