Safest Places to Live in California

California, fondly known as the Golden State is one of the largest states of the United States of America, with diversity in climate, people and residential areas. Often cited to be one of the most expensive places to live in, California has many places that are ideal for the people who are in search of the safest places to live. Safety is a major factor that affects the choice of almost all homebuyers. I think safety of living has various definitions. Some people might feel safe while living in nature's realm where they won't get affected by the world crisis or say World War 3 when it starts (however grim as it may sound), while a few others may choose to live in the areas that have least possibilities of natural calamities like hurricanes and tsunamis! The rest of them might want to live in a neighborhood which is free from the gang wars and other defaming activities. When it comes to California, most of the Californian cities are known for their chic lifestyle and downtown vitalities. It is also important to understand that California is synonymous with gangs, criminal activities, drug distribution and violence. Keeping that in mind, migrating to California in search of the safest place is quite a challenge.

Top Rated Places to Live in California

Experts have different opinions when it comes to ranking the best places to live in California, that are also safe for families and elderly people. Some say that Southern California is the safest, while others say that beach cities of California are the safest. Beach cities of California are located at the western part of Southern California. Well, here are some of the safe places to live in California.

Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo is one of the safest places to live in southern California. Located in the Saddleback Valley region of the Southern Orange County, Mission Viejo is one of the largest master-planned communities in the US. This place offers a suburban atmosphere which is rich in culture as well as nature. Mission Viejo was named as the 'safest city in the US' in the year 2007 by Morgan Quitno Crime Statistic Survey. In the year 2009, Mission Viejo was named as No. 1 Safest City in California and 3rd safest city in the US by the CQ Pres. All in all, Mission Viejo is a great city to live with the people of diverse cultural interests ranging from folk music to jazz festivals and with various natural attractions. Growing economical strength and convenient location (the midpoint of Los Angeles and San Diego) of Mission Viejo has made it an excellent place to live for families as well as retirees.

Laguna Beach
Another city which is located in the Southern Orange County of California is Laguna Beach. One of the popular beach cities of the US, Laguna Beach is an artists' community of Orange County. Laguna Beach was incorporated as a city in the year 1927 and since then, the area has shown a steady growth in population as well as economy. The area is always cited as the epicenter of alternative culture of the US. The warm Mediterranean climate and sandy beaches make this place a tourist hotspot during peak seasons. However, it is also important for you to understand that Laguna Beach is also the birthplace of the notorious Brotherhood of Eternal Love, which was a group of drug dealers and users! All in all, today Laguna Beach is cited to be a safe place to live.

San Jose
San Jose is the third largest city in the state of California. San Jose is located in the southern area of the San Francisco Bay, which is located in Northern California. The northern region of San Jose is popularly known as Silicon Valley. San Jose is one of the safest places to live in Northern California. The region has a subtropical Mediterranean climate and warm sunshine almost throughout the year. Numerous high paying technology corporations and an expensive style of living has significantly reduced the crime rate of this region. As a result, San Jose is one of the best places that you may choose to live in with a top class yet safe lifestyle.

San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is located on the Central Coast and at the midpoint of Los Angeles and San Francisco. San Luis Obispo has been referred as the happiest city in America, by Oprah Winfrey and Dan Buettner of the National Geographic. The region was originally inhibited by the Chumash people, today's San Luis Obispo population is made of mixed races including Latino as well as Pacific Icelanders. The city has warm Mediterranean climate with moderate rain during winter season. San Luis Obispo is one of the popular tourist attraction is the Central Coast region, since it is rich with natural and geological wonders.

Sherman Oaks
If you are looking for one of the most comfortable, cheapest and safest places to live in California, then Sherman Oaks is the place for you. Sherman Oaks is a small district in the city of Los Angeles of the state of California. The residential as well as economical density of Sherman Oaks is highly diverse and hence the city is a home to commercial skyscrapers to single story residences, along the Ventura Boulevard. The city offers you with an affluent neighborhood, upscale commodities and excellent educational institutions. All in all, if you are in search of bourgeoisie lifestyle in an affluent area, then Sherman Oaks is an ideal city in Los Angeles, California.

Lancaster
One of the fastest growing cities in the US, Lancaster is the fifth largest city of the Los Angeles county of the State of California. The city is located in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster offers excellent residential area for those who are looking for the safest cities to live in California. The place has a semi-arid climate which offers moderate temperatures round the year. The family income of Lancaster is above the national average, but interestingly, housing prices in this area are below the state average. As a result, many middle class citizens of California have migrated in this part of the state.

Now apart from the places mentioned here, other places like Fresno, San Francisco Bay Area, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Chico, Madera, etc., are some of the other safest places to live in California.