Great Rural Towns in California to Retire or Buy a Home.
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- Want to find a rural California town to get a mortgage? Who doesn’t right? Today we are looking at great rural towns in California.
A couple of things about rural California towns, they rarely have jobs so you have to bring one or do not need one, and solar panels for your house are always a good idea in California. All utilities are high in the golden state: natural gas, water, and especially electricity.
With the towns in this video, we are looking for that sweet spot. A decent place to live that isn’t too close to any major cities, easy on the crime rate, not 5 hours away from a hospital or so far out they have horrible internet. Those things knocked a lot of small towns off this list.
In the last video, I explained that not all states have 10 good rural towns and I don’t want to waste your time with some places that are a reach and shouldn’t be on the list. Got it? Get it? Good.
Best Small towns in California
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One thing to be aware of in rural California, especially in the foothills and mountains, getting homeowners insurance is next to impossible if you are in a high wildfire area. Entire counties have had their homeowners insurance either cancelled or non-renewed. The California Fair Plan which is an option of last resort, averages $4000.00 a year and only covers fire, an additional liability wrap around policy will set one back $800.00 to $1500.00. For many retirees this is a deal breaker.
This is true. We have our fire insurance and property taxes bundled in with our mortgage. We are paying in property taxes and fire insurance over $6,000 yearly. It sucks! The good thing though is it helps to discourage too many people from moving here! (Mariposa, CA)
I live about 7 miles outside of Mariposa, towards Yosemite. I have a friend in Plumas county and another in Madera (Oakhurst) both said they lost their HO insurance too.
We live in Crescent City which is on the coast in far northern CA. We had our homeowners insurance dropped due to forest fire risk. We live in a near rain forest climate so I don’t get it. Just another example of insurance companies screwing the public
You would have to clear the home of all the brush, dead wood....build with brick and cement or something.
@@bookmouse2719 Insurance companies don't care what measures the homeowner takes. Anyone that lives in a rural wildfire area keeps the brush cleared. We had a wildfire roar through my community this summer; all that's left of my neighbors homes are partial adobe walls, shattered rock chimneys and broken cement.
I relocated from San Diego to Portola in Plumas County. The house was cheap BUT food and utilities are expensive. Im “close” to Quincy, Truckee and Reno. We have a full service hospital with trauma center. They fly you to Truckee or Reno for definitive care so that’s important. We have fiber interwebs from Plumas Sierra Telecommunications that costs $99/mo. The scenery is gorgeous. It’s silent. It’s a dark night sky. Occasionally there will be 3 feet of snow dumped in a single night that you have to dig out of. It’s a lovely community and I hope to stay here until I die.
Better than Santa Cruz we have 2 power companies so we have to pay the min fee for solar twice every month. Our internet is $180/ month w no tv for the least expensive broadband. Still get paid so much more for our jobs than the east coast that we can’t afford to not live here we have a well and car fees are about half what it cost in our old state. Food is a mix. A lot of stuff is cheaper but some stuff is more. I have never experienced any aggression or had anything stolen but it’s kind of hard to even find my house. We pretty much work from home so we don’t have to worry about gas too much but it’s expensive. We have plenty of privacy, space for our dogs and all my experiments so it works
I was born in Redding and grew up in Weaverville and currently live in Crescent City and Smith River. Northern California is a great place to live.
My relatives mostly live in Del Norte County (Crescent City, Ft, Dick and Smith River). My cousin donated the land for the hospital. The area is beautiful, but medical services are very poor. Everyone drives hours for everything but the most basic medical. Better have a job or be retired with a pension and be in excellent health if you plan to move there.
@@DanielLee89501 you are right. It's gorgeous here. Im at Smith River now. And I love it.
Crescent City is gorgeous. I moved to Red Bluff to be closer to my son in Sacramento, but Crescent City was my first choice for house-hunting, for sure.
Redding summers no bueno
Redding, 2 seasons: hot & dry; cold & wet. (It was a wonderful place to grow up).
I live in Cambria and yes, water is our number 1 concern. Being as rain is scarce (approx 15 inches per year). And yes, we do have a water desal plant, for emergency use only. But that's being highly debated for need of building more homes. Which is also a sore spot with many of us locals. We are a small town and unincorporated, which means a lot of amenities are not here. We have Main street and Hwy. One, no franchised fast food joints, although there's plenty of restaurants. Big Sur is 35 miles north, lots of hiking and spectacular scenery, but closed when there are rain storms, which we're experiencing now. I've lived here over 30 years and have seen a lot of changes but still beautiful, still expensive and still small and rural.
No fast food franchises in Cambria?? Deal breaker.
I spent 12 years in San Diego and 10 in Santa Cruz, California will always be my favorite place.
I lived in Santa Cruz too. Great town!
Moved to San Diego 2 years ago and love it too
I grew up in SC. Priced out now. :-( I live in Marina, CA now which is near Monterey. We love it, but are getting priced out here too. We rent, and pay just over $2k for a 2 bedroom old apartment with no in unit laundry, and no yard. It was literally our only option when we moved to the area 3 years ago. Houses start at ~600k for a fixer. That is why I’m watching this video.
I used to live in the Paradise Hotel many years ago... it was great except for the loud ass seals barking all night long... couldn't stand the downtown area... too many homeless bums...
I took a one week vacation there.. I like the town. 💕
Please continue making the series Briggs I love your videos and your sense of humor.
Karen Corbett This fool liar's sense of humor is telling truths that just don't exist. If I had a nickel for every false or omitted statement this story teller made I could buy one of these beautiful, well-run, properly staffed rural hospitals he brags exist all over California, or some of those over-stated pieces of real estate this bullshitting bastard exaggerates about.
This crooner is what's known as the perfect bullshitter. He lives at the corner of Walk and Don'twalk, in Neverneverland, California. His perfect world is what he pitches in his fake reviews. I'd love to see his most recent tax return and a Dept. Of Justice printout of his criminal past. I'll bet he's right up there alongside Kevin Trudeau.
Loved it ! Born and raised in California. I’ve been to every one of those towns. Beautiful, thank you.
One issue in Cambria is a constant water shortage. They only have one small river/creek to draw from, which has pretty much prevented the construction of new homes.
The creek flows all that water out into the ocean. Cambria gets flooded from storms also. There is no attempt to capture water, de-sal plants have been attempted to be installed but denied. It’s all done on purpose as local control does not want any new building. It’s their little paradise and they don’t want to share it. It’s not the only snalll coastal town in the area where this is going on. People have owned lots for decades and been denied access to build but are required to continue to pay property taxes. From what I understand there is a also a capped water source to be used only for emergencies.
Not anymore (1/12/23)
Chevron leaking MTBE into Cambria's wells in the 1990's didn't help much either
And it’s very expensive to live there. we go to Cambria Pines Lodge, for holidays
You can say that for ALL of California. Currently, Cambria is being hit pretty hard by the storms. Beautiful town, though. A great Harley ride from Pismo beach.
My dad had a beach house in Cambria and I’ve visited the town so many times. It is GORGEOUS. It’s known as Pines by the Sea and the area, especially the drive up PCH is one of the most beautiful areas in the US. And it’s by Hearst Castle.
Oh my, the privledged life. Must be nice.
I’ve lived in central CA most of my life and Cambria is one of my most favorite places to visit.
I also live on the central coast and visit Cambria as much as I can. It’s a beautiful place.
@@12w0some people work their ass off for it too.
This is the series I have been waiting for. Not really California, but rural towns, for sure, in all states.
I have lived in California my entire 50 years of living and this was a good video. Highlights the beautiful towns in Cali that’s for sure 😊
The climate in Humboldt is amazing. 100% Ferndale was a good pick.
Too radioactive
Always overcast tho. Didn't like it
I’d strongly argue that Mount Shasta is easily a top 8 rural town in California. I grew up there and I’m so grateful that I did. If there’s a part 2… I’d include it 👌🏼
I’d like to say McCloud as well just because it’s just so quiet
Dunsmuir is nice as well I live in Yreka and can say that MOST of southern Siskiyou County could make this list.
I would agree with you but, summers are getting too hot, and sometimes air quality is awful due to the wild fires.
Happy Camp is also a great little town.
@@cherrlyn381 I grew up there and still have family there I go back as often as I can but my town was killed back in the early 90's
Thanks Briggs for this. I was born and raised in Plumas Co. CA and lived in Quincy during my formative years. Still love Quincy Still have friends and family there. It's more than a town it's truly a community.
Native to California born and raised and live in Cental Cali. Love the smaller cities and towns and your list is pretty solid. Thanks for the video! 😁👍🏿
I was born an raised in Northern California and I thought I was an expert in the state's geography, but I'll admit, there were a couple of towns on your list I hadn't ever heard of! I love all your stats. The info is great, but I think the local weather is also vital to know. When you got to Truckee California, I found myself adding "if you like the snow" after every beaming feature you mentioned. It's just a thought, but a lot of people might appreciate a head's up on whether or not they should include the cost of a snow blower or solar panels in their home-buying budget.
Snow and freezing cold for Truckee.
I love this video! Grew up in Ojai California! This was a small town in the 90s. 7000 people but then houses and people swelled
My grandparents used to own a business and live in Cambria. I love that little town!
The overall purpose of this video is great. It's very true (I am now finding as we investigate other states) that you CAN live in CA on the cheap relative to elsewhere. Briggs did seem to pick towns that someone living in Oregon would like (cold, foggy or rainy), but I consider his channel to be a spark. People have different tastes & he pushes us to look for what we want. Especially in CA most wishes can be met.
California gas and DMV will drive you out
I wanted to "move away" without "moving away". Bought a log cabin near a lake in the woods in San Diego county. Love it - and I kept my job! Bought it for 475K a year ago - now worth almost 700K (got acres). Got that solar too.
Unbelievable, you are bless and fortunate.
Good stuff. I would advice to Sell it. Rates rise is going to crush house prices soon. So sell high buy it back when price collapses.
Your living the dream! Congrats on the equity:)
I live in SD county too… what approx. area did you go to?
Wear?
Love that you included Kernville on the list! My grandmother grew up in old Kernville before the reservoir was built and the town was moved, but her sister (my great aunt) still lives in the town to this day. She would always be pointing out landmarks around the town to me when we'd family would visit. One of which was a mountain formation known as the "sleeping giant" which I believe you can catch a glimpse of in the video!
We love Kernville!!!! So beautiful!
This was perfect timing and awesome! Actually looking at homes / property in two of these places. Would like to buy now and rent out till I can retire. Have a decent local job that I don't want to give up just yet. And for once, I have been to all of these places. Totally spot on as always. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs I love your videos 💖💖 I also want to know why you stopped saying your catchphrase “Stop Typing”. It’s freaking hilarious and that’s what sealed the deal on me subscribing to your channel lol 😂
@@nellywilliams2776 if you’re gonna talk about how Briggs has stopped saying that catchphrase, know that there are about a million other ones already in the comments section. Stop Typing
I live in Weaverville my whole life pretty amazing.
You nailed it, dude! I've lived in Truckee for 43 years (back when it was a lot more affordable than it is now) and it's a terrific place to live. The one caution is we sometimes get VERY deep snow but you learn to deal with it.
I'm a born and raised 3rd generation Californian originally from Orange County (grew up in Yorba Linda, then moved to Anaheim, then to Seal Beach). SoCal has SO much to offer and a ton to do, but it comes with so many cons, particularly housing costs, traffic, and a ton of competition for jobs. When my wife and I finally decided to buy a home it was nearly impossible on our salary (I'm a teacher and she works at the front office of a school in my District). Average home prices over 800,000 mean that you need a ton of money to put down. With rents sky high, it's hard to save - and even if you do find a home you have to be prepared to go way over asking to actually get it.
With that in mind, both of us decided to make the move together up to the Northern Central Valley. We ended up in Lodi, and then moved to Stockton. Houses range from high 200s - 500s I would say. My rent was $1000 less than SoCal and we were able to purchase a home within a year of being here. Yes there's crime, yes the summers are grueling, but we own property, I'm making more than my District in OC and overall we are happy.
We don't plan to stay forever though, our next move is actually to the Humboldt County area where housing is still cheap, nature is abundant, and the ocean is a few blocks away. Many are leaving CA, but there are still some beautiful gems out there if you are willing to look.
The liberals democrats have destroy California with hyper-inflation but I blame the ret***ds voters for that. GOOD TIMES ARE OVER.
I currently live in Stockton, just moved ( temp ) from Valley Springs just east of Stockton, and nice small one traffic stop town. North east Stockton ( Morada area ) is nice.
@@kennethpereyda5707 we used to go for hikes in Valley Springs every weekend in the spring. Brewgers is always tasty. We actually looked at some houses there, but we really don’t want a commute anymore.
Glad you’re happy! We’re by UOP and it’s a great little area
I've owned homes in Humboldt County for decades. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever lived; however, drug use is prolific county wide and the economy is in the gutter. Just take a drive through broadway Eureka; zombie tweakers everywhere. People's homes are consistently ripped off, one can't even leave garden statues in their yard without them missing in the morning. If it was the Tenderloin in San Francisco, it would be expected; but it's a small remote county, so it's frustrating. You can own a big home and granted somebody will be watching and waiting for you to leave & steal your things. There is minimal social entertainment in Humboldt. People are bored, so they do a lot of drugs & alcohol. There is a spiritual darkness and stronghold. The emerald triangle feels a lot like an island, or Hotel California- check out anytime you like, but you can never leave... If you are less sensitive and more extroverted, you may be here a while before you notice. There are so many amazing attributes with nature if you're outdoorsy and work remotely. However, there are deep undeniable undercurrents of pain and addiction felt within the county that has one of the highest overdose death rates in California. It's beautiful, but few can hack it here long term.
@@jessie1090 That what our gov wants I blame the ret***ds voter for that.
I just love driving up to the Bay Area, on highway 1. Absolutely beautiful and a serene drive. Ocean and all👌🏾
Great Job Jimmy! Thank you for rating us #2 in Kernville, CA. We bought the house in 2005 and it has been our Retreat. We are now permanent residents so you can add 3 more to the population. We will ask our local Dr if he is a subscriber, he was the one who told us we were ranked #2. Oh and by the way, this is your Mother in Law posting! ♥️U
I didn't see him respond, so I guess he overlooked you. Not good to overlook Moma Inlaw!!! lol....
My utilities (gas, elec, water) here in my little town of Joshua Tree, CA, average about $150/mo. It doesn't seem like a lot to me! My aunt and uncle (the Estels) moved to Mariposa back in the 1930s. My uncle built his house from scratch.They didn't get electricity until about 10 yrs later so it was VERY rural. He owned the only hardware store in town. They loved to square dance. I loved to visit them as a kid.
I like how much information you provide about the towns. Very well done!
Weaverville warning. California fires have been closing in on this town in recent years. There are few ways out of town so evacuations are not uncommon. Last one that got major attention was the Helena Fire. Most are not tended to by CalFire, but by local agencies.
I had to LOL at "low crime rate"... I got broken into twice within a month of moving to the area 🥲
Just watch out for Big Foot.
This video is a great public service. I was seriously looking to move out of CA because of the high prices, but so many have moved to AZ that it's almost as expensive and if you haven't noticed it's too damn hot there. Then I watched this and realized some of the places I love to vacation could be my home - and after more research I'm now selling my OC house and moving to one of these towns. Never realized these beautiful places were so inexpensive. Yeah, there's a risk of fire, but we have that risk here, too.
Try Julian not far from you, nice town in the mountains Cleveland National forest
Lots of cool small towns along 395 in eastern California. My favorite is Bridgeport. Great town to be around the 4th of July. Great decorations that really give out the small town vibe.
Love these little towns, but might be worth mentioning the climate👍🏻. Great videos!
Back when I lived in California, my wife & I used to vacation near Quincy... actually Graeagle and Blairsden. Those are tiny towns east of Quincy, at a moderate elevation. So there's snow in the winter, but less than what you would get in Truckee or Tahoe.
Graeagle is awesome - so cute and quiet!
I was in utter shock, in 2013, at how drought scarred the inland landscape is. Compared to the 80s-90s it's an inhospitable moonscape, even Lake Shasta area that felt like Switzerland. SO heartbreaking.
The Spanish kept records of historical weather data in California, and apparently we're now in what seems to be 'regular' weather patterns for the state. It seems the 1900's were an anonymity with much more precipitation than the historical norms.
That’s what happens when you strip all the water out of the valley via the aqueduct.
As a kid (1960s-70s) we made many camping trips to Trinity Lake. It was nice back then with the water right up to the trees. Now, not so much. I have sympathy for anyone paying big bucks for a "cabin on the lake", only to now have a "cabin next to the dirt void."
All the reservoirs are filling quickly (Jan 2023). The last time reservoirs were full (2017) they had a 5 year supply which included farmers for their fields. The levels were drawn down to minimums in 2 years showing severe water mis-management in the state (arguably on purpose). The usual excuse is trying to protect an introduced fish species (smelt) that mutated over it's 175 years in California, from it's billions of relatives in Lake Superior. It's labelled endangered, even though the Delta was never a natural habitat for this fish...
I was raised on a farm in Chico, when it was a small town & have much experience in Ferndale, Fortuna, Weaverville, Arcata, Oroville, and Quincy. I could easily live in any of them and be very happy.
A hidden gem, where I now reside, is Paradise Ca. Despite the fire, it is absolutely beautiful here.
The population is around 4,000 and growing, but there are few services-
There are; 2 bars, 3 grocery stores, 2 gas stations, 1 gym and lots of churches. Home prices are low.
Insurance isnt too bad and the weather is terrific at 1500 to 2500 ft. elevation.
For all but the basics, Chico and Oroville are a short drive away. Both have hospitals.
My view of the Feather River Canyon is spectacular.
I could never live in a city over 25,000.
don't they have a wild population of peacocks?
Thanks for the video! Truckee's $250,000 condo price you mentioned is usually buying into 1/8 ownership all the way down to only one week's use per year. Either that or you buy your own place for $250-300k but there is a $1,000 per month HOA fee. A regular condo is $500k and up. But, like most of California, there is a reason it's so pricey! Gorgeous and amazing weather.
We love Truckee! So breathtaking
My parents live in Carnelian Bay and their condo is 1500 sq ft. Goes for $1 million. 🍻🇺🇸🤙🏻
I prefer Grass valley which has çheap housing and little bit close to Sacramento.
Sorry, there are plenty of much more desirable places in this country than Calif. And you don’t have to deal with idiotic progressive communist liberals!
Loving this Rural towns series keep it up. I want to see Nevada.
Love this series! Thank you, Briggs.
Glad you like them!
I lived in Truckee for a summer. Absolutely beautiful town, super nice people. Jumped in the river every day, and rafted from river ranch into town multiple times on cheap rafts. Donner lake is a hidden gem. What a great place.
Love your reviews! Yes, Ferndale is where they filmed the movie "Outbreak" starring Dustin Hoffman. Beautiful town! However, it has had it's share of very strong earthquakes causing major damage to buildings. Keep up the great work!
Note that Truckee is one of the coldest towns in the state of California. The weird thing is it's one of the coldest towns in the U.S. between June and October. Winters are also cold because it's in a valley and the cold air flows downward from the surrounding mountains to the Truckee area. It's at Donner pass and has an elevation of about 5,800 ft. It's essentially a bedroom community for North Lake Tahoe snow skiers.
Yes, Reno is a better option and just a half hour farther away on I-80. Its still cold but not Truckee cold and way cheaper to purchase a home.
What are you talking about Truckee being cold in summer? It's often 80+ degrees there. Its issue is that summer is too hot...
I work for Ziply, they bought out Frontier in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Frontier retained the rest.
My parents moved just outside of a small town of about 7,000 people called Winters. It’s in Yolo county near farmland, Lake Berryessa, and Putah Creek. They have a really neat downtown with good restaurants, a brand new hotel, 2 wineries, a brewery and little shops. It is growing though as they are developing more single family homes. Bay Area folks are moving out for the cheaper prices so it’s driving up the costs unfortunately.
Love Winters, very charming.
Cambria and it's outlying area is absolutely stunningly beautiful! Great scenery, good amenities and very nice people.
I couldn't be happier that you missed a bunch of our small towns! 😀
I’d suggest looking into Three Rivers, CA, a usual stop before going to Sequoia National Park. It’s very small and quaint, but absolutely gorgeous. The lake, scenery, and overall history of the town makes it an amazing place that I hope to settle down when I’m older as my fiancé and his family are originally from there. Yes, the home prices are very typical of CA prices, but plots of land are for sale for very reasonable prices and I’ve never had trouble with WiFi when I am there. There are medical centers nearby and it’s situated between Fresno and Bakersfield. A lot to do there, and aesthetically gorgeous!
I was raised in Visalia, and we used to go there in the summer to swim. It was wonderful.
I was thinking about Three Rivers,too, but it is pricey.
I’m pretty familiar with that area. Unfortunately there seemed to be a lot of drug addiction and homes getting broken into.
it's soooo hot there in the summer though
@@elgatosamurai9517 Compared to the valley floor or the rest of California it doesn't even compare on crime.
Yes the PCH is a beautiful drive. Did it last summer. Started at Topanga Canyon and went all the way to the Olympic Peninsula.
Amazing list. I know every town listed & have been to all of them except Ferndale. I'd live in any 1 of them, especially Cambria (except that I can't afford a house in any of them). My uncle & aunt had a place around Kernville & they were summertime residents (just like you mentioned) from the LA area back in the day. & Mariposa is a gem. Every time we go to Yosemite we stopped there & got the hugest most delicious ice cream cones.
Love Weaverville and Quincy, so much year round outdoor beauty although over the last 4 years we changed the name of Summer to Smoke
Briggs's, you're working so hard on this. Thank you. Wyoming please! xoxo
I love Ferndale ! It’s so quaint. Truckee is gorgeous but very very expensive and caters to the fancy folks. Mariposa imo is a total dump. Beautiful scenery the entrance to Yosemite. Deer etc. not a single grocery store nor any other amenities. You have to go 45 minutes to Oakhurst for groceries or as you said Fresno or Modesto. Thank you for another great video!!!
Just a word of caution, Truckee gets real winters with snow, blowing snow, and snowbanks. Between December and January, highway I-80 usually gets shut down for a few hours, or days. Snow chains are a must. You may get snowed-in for days at a time. Just something to be aware of. Other than that, it's a gorgeous town.
Longtime Mariposa Co. Resident....Our entire county is safe, special, rural and worth the drive to get essentials.
Me too!! We love it here!!!
On the other hand it's trumpville and has roving bands of vigilante nuts aka "militias" and you'll likely at some point be running for your life with a wall of flames close behind.
When you named off your No. 1 pick I let out an audible “Hell Yea.”
Greetings from Truckee!
Haha, greetings from Kings Beach.
@@StageRight123 Kings beach, that is a really nice town in Lake Tahoe area. I frequent at Sand Harbor.
We lived in Mariposa for about 8 years…an adorable and charming community!!
Love this series. Keep it up Briggs!
I’ve visited almost all of these small towns and can agree they’re all absolutely beautiful places to visit and vacation! As for living there, rural living is often over romanticized by folks living in big cities, which I totally understand. Speaking from personal experience, while rural living has certain benefits, there are often certain trade offs you have to be ok with. Unless you work remotely good paying jobs can be hard to find. Also better get used to planning long drives into town to pickup basic essentials groceries. Can’t just run down to the mall on a whim. If you want land, you have to maintain it or risk being another victim of the next wildfire.
Everyone works remotely nowadays.
@@jonothandoeser Try telling that to someone who works in construction, healthcare, or any job that requires field work and for you to actually be physically present to earn a living.
@@Honeybadger_525 You can do medical records at home! And charting. You can draw up construction plans at home!
@@jonothandoeser You can cherry pick counter arguments all you want man, but many working folks still have to leave their houses at some point, lol. I highly recommend it. Its good for your physical and mental health.
This is true! For me, the trade offs are worth it but it's not for everyone.
One downside to Truckee is they have CRAZY weather. It snows a lot and can be subzero in the winter, and the summer can see high temps in the 90s but low temps in the 30s.
Truckee is the coldest place in the lower 48, in july
I live at Tahoe. It's not that bad.
So glad to see one of my hometowns, Weaverville, on your list!! I've been away for about 15 years but such an amazing town!! (BTW, I settled across the Columbia from you in Vancouver, WA!! Big fan here!!)
Lots of excellent information here regarding our rural towns :) You also touched on my personal pet peeve . Hughes Net is the worst. Not just the internet speed. They have the worst customer service/billing departments I've ever dealt with... They will try and rip you off financially as well. Not sure how they are still in business.
I was raised in Humboldt County and had a great childhood there. My wife and I now live in the Napa Valley and we visit parts of Humboldt a couple of times a year and we love our visits. That being said I would advise those folks considering a move to Humboldt to spend a good amount of time there before making a decision to live there. The video includes Ferndale and, although it is an attractive and peaceful little village the weather is foggy or overcast much of the time and there's not much going on there. This is the case in many of the towns in northern Humboldt (Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Fortuna, etc) Nice towns to visit but the climate is probably much more cool and foggy/overcast than you're used to and options for entertainment may be quite a bit less available than you're used to. The area also has a highly visible homeless population. We're considering moving to a less expensive area but we will look elsewhere for permanent digs. We will still visit Humboldt, for us 4 or 5 days in Humboldt is enough.
When I retired five years ago, my wife and I moved to McKinleyville from the San Francisco Bay Area. We much prefer the weather here versus the Bay Area and are happy to be away from the crowds and traffic. A big problem is healthcare in Humboldt county because no doctors in this area are taking new patients. We’ve kept our primary care physician in the Bay Area and periodically drive back there for healthcare. While there we also stock up on products from Trader Joe’s because they have no store here. IN-N-Out Burger recently opened in Eureka (yay!).
Murphys, Sonora, Sutter Creek are very nice Foothill towns. Should be on this list.
Definitely Sonora and Columbia.
Own places in Sonora....
Homelessness is getting bad.... Camps on Stockton St.
and along creek between Jamestown and Sonora....
Been in Murphys for 30 years and Sonora since 1982. We have enough people in Murphys. A lot of us here are sick of all the idiots from the bay area.
Fire traps.
Ive been to all the towns you mentioned, they all have their pluses and they are cool ,Weaverville is a hidden gem , great video
I love Truckee!! So happy to see it at the top of the list.
Every town mentioned (except possibly Ferndale and Cambria) the Home Owners Insurance falls into high fire risk. Most Insurance companies will not cover you. We had to use Cover California that only covers structure and get a separate wrap around policy to cover contents. We went from paying $1400 a year to almost $5000.
Great comment; my fire insurance quote id around 7k per year!
It's in the Angels Camp CA ....
Interesting 🤔
Thanks for sharing
Great point
Yep! That's the thing about mountain living
Kinda sad that Auburn wasn’t mentioned. I do love Truckee but your right it is expensive. I do agree with the other person who mentioned Shasta. I spent a lot of summers in Shasta. So beautiful. Thank you for mentioning CA.
Auburn is amazing!
I've been to Auburn and I would have put it in the list.
I was just in Cambria in December. 💕💕💕🌊🌊 Gorgeous town!
Thank Goodness you didn't mentioned my city!! Ive been living in the Bay Area all my life and couldn't take the congestion anymore. Now that I found this nice cool spot, I want it to continue to be that way... small cool town flavor.
I have lived in 3 of these small towns. there are about 12 - 15 more he could have picked. Just like most states, if you stay out of the BIG cities California has a good quality of life.
you pick well grover
@@bepositive4494 Thanks , I am currently living in a small Southern California town where we have about 28 wineries and even more vineyards , we have apple and avocado and citric orchards . We enjoy low crime and no one bothers locking their doors , we have no homeless problem no antifa protests no dragQueen parades I'm glad most people believe this state is a big shithole .
@@groverearp2600 SO happy to hear it GROVER. PLUMAS county I have lived in and it was GREAT (Quincy, ca not far from Truckee... Portola too I have lived.) San Diego county is where I got bitter. I had a small apartment complex (8 units I lived in one, For about two weeks I had a vacant apt and Migrants broke in squatted there. I could not get them out. The state of Ca forced me to evict them took 8 months and thousands of dollars. In Texas if someone trespasses you can use other means. State Of California ABHORS business and works to eliminate the independent. Only 27% of California population pays taxes the rest are on the dole. That is not sustainable Grover.
@@bepositive4494 Great reply, keep repeating this message because Gabin Newsom will run for president in 2024, the uninformed need to know this. He will attempt to do this with our entire country. I am going to question your statment about the 27%
Ahhh. SoCal! My home state Lived in Small (Lake Arrowhead) burbs (Alhambra, West Covina, and Oceanside) and large (Hollywood). Great momories. I just wish I could afford it. However, I do not miss the Santa Anas! That wind was the worst!
The Santa Anas and the earthquakes.
Good video with a few overlooked towns on the list for me. Cambria was home for us. The review is accurate but leaves out a few important items. A permanent water shortage exists. 150 gal/day is what you should expect. Cambria has not allowed a new building permit since the early 2000's and a water hookup is made from unobtainium. Yes there is medical care sort of. If you care about the quality of care look elsewhere and what good ones are available, they are not taking new patients. And lastly the village is pet friendly but if you want to run your pup on the beach (on leash) you need to drive about 30 minutes south. So Cambria has good and bad, we do miss the town.
Red Bluff, CA; Shasta, CA; or Whiskeytown, CA. Murphy's and Jackson are great semi-rural towns, too! Truckee is my favorite choice for people who want a Tahoe "vibe" without the commercialism. Truckee offers a glimpse of what Tahoe looked like 30 years ago. It's charming and the people are laid back. Donner Lake is a beautiful place to camp and kayak, if you do not want to deal with Tahoe tourists.
I was born and raised in California. I grew up in Bakersfield and Porterville. I raised my kids in Porterville after my husband passed away. We went camping every year at Pismo Beach and spent time in the little surrounding towns but, Cambria was one of my favorite. I love Morro Bay and I'm getting homesick watching this video. I moved to Texas 6 years ago and I love it here but I do miss California some times. 😁
We used to go all over the state camping with out motorcycles and dune buggies. Every couple years we’d go to Pismo. That by far was my favorite.
Hello 👋dear, how are you doing?
@@Godwinpounds4333 Hello, I'm good. How are you?
@@angelcharlie2012 I’m doing good. Its nice meeting with you here. Where are you texting from?
@@Godwinpounds4333 I'm in Texas and you?
One thing I consider vital that isn't mentioned: availability and quality of the local food stores. Having good restaurants is nice, but you can't (or shouldn't) eat out every day. If the only place locally you can buy any food is essentially a convenance store that would be a major detriment.
Yes, and fuel prices.
I believe all the ones in NorCal have a Safeway/SaveMart or Raily's in or near them.
@@gregstewart7442 Yes, I agree. You have to get waay out into in the sticks in most places (talking places like Bear Valley/Mt. Reba/Markleville/Woodfords/Tamarack types of places if you are familiar with any of those) before you lose the types of stores you are talking about. I live near Arnold and this area is rural to very rural but even a smaller town like Arnold has a family owned grocery store along the lines of a medium sized Safeway/Save Mart. Arnold has I think like a population of 2,500 but once you start counting the surrounding subdivisions the number goes up from there. Start throwing in tourist season, ski season and various other season and factor in the local vacation rentals and the areas population can easily exceed 20,000 on a temporary basis so the area can support a few large town/small city type businesses.
I lived in Truckee for several years in the late 90s, it was fun and low key then, but depending on the winter the snow can be quite overwhelming there, and it gets much colder than areas of similar elevation. Big thing now is its become an overpriced tourist trap, and extremely crowded pretty much any time but off season weekdays. Still a beautiful area and all but it has a whole lot of negatives going on in my mind. If you are a very wealthy retiree thats about the only way I d see it as viable.
YES, now traffic is unbearable if you knew what it was...
Really appreciate the time and research you did, thank you.
I visited Ferndale DECADES ago while on a trip to Eureka. The Gumdrop Tree House is unique.
I’ll be curious to hear your update on Weaverville after you visit. Trinity Hospital is awful, would honestly not take my dog there. The town is beautiful and so are the lakes. But there is poverty everywhere along with the poverty mindset (Hey! You look like you have money, what are you going to do for me? The government owes me, etc.) Lots of gaming the system going on. We moved there as a young married couple with stars in our eyes but quickly became bored, realized the youth got in trouble due to boredom (the big life goal was to work at the mill) and SO much drug use throughout the community. We realized it was not a place for us or our future children and moved out of there at our first opportunity. 3 years was tooo long.
Ferndale is such lovely place! I was in love with the town and lots of antiques shops
It was wild see Weaverville (and to a lesser extent Ferndale) make the list, as someone who spent a great part of their childhood between Eureka and Redding it was nice to see the areas acknowledged. Haven't been up to the Redding side in years tho but I still visit the Eureka area.
Wow my county of humboldt is #10 and trinity is #9 awesome.Yes Ferndale has had many movies filmed there for example salems lot,outbreak,the majestic and others.I live in McKinleyville about 30-40 miles north of there.And weaverville is one of my and my late mother's favorite places to go for a day.We would always go to the red dragon for dinner or the nugget restaurant .Hey briggs you should look into small towns out in oregon there are quite a few good ones.
Cambria has an additional real estate woe that you missed. Water rights. You don't get any when you purchase a property. There are unbuilt property sites all over Cambria because of the lack of water. The city has a waiting list that is close to a decade long. If you want water, you can either wait, or there are many investors that "sell" their place in the waiting line. Enjoy.
True! But you've gotta admit, it's a great little town otherwise
That’s what kept us from buying there. However, Cambria is our first choice when we want to visit the coast.
Nice video. I’ve been living in & out of cali for almost 20 years. (We are getting ready to move to back to cali hopefully in the fall.). I’ve lived in major cities (San Diego) to rural redwood towns with a population of 800. I’ve always wanted to live in Quincy bc my favorite music festival is there usually around 4th of July every summer. & I drove thru truckee like 8 years ago. The sun had just set but I still remember how beautiful it still was, even in the dark. I had a bright moon tho. I love your videos!
Great list!! Cambria is a great spot! But if I could move to any small town in the world it would be my weekend getaway from Stockton! Half Moon Bay! MY FAVORITE SPOT!
Back in the late 70's, I lived in Truckee for 3 years. It was a great little town, back then (and dirt cheap). Noticed that I said, "was". Around 1980, all of the affluent you-know-whats suddenly decided that Truckee would be a great place to own vacation property. Within a couple years, that had driven-out almost all of the locals, and turned the town into a playground for the rich. Back in '78, the population was only around 5000.
I live in a town 45 minutes from Truckee and it’s starting to come downhill. All that bay area money is shoving locals out
please do Florida next! or Maybe Arizona! love the content Briggs.
The coast line cities are expensive. My recent favor is Fort Bragg CA. Houses are from $300k. Many beaches, beautiful sunset, great location for fishing, water sports, hiking in State Parks, also a busy tourist attraction during summer.
I’d love to see a video about rural areas in southern Washington like Battleground, Yacolt and Salmon creek. Don’t know too much about those areas.
Jamul is an awesome small rural town I rented there for a little over a year (I cried when I left). Living there is like being part of one big family the guys still hang out at the little local store after work. Very family-oriented good schools 25 minute drive through the mountains to get to San Diego and it has some of the most gorgeous views
You mean Julian
@@dr5910 No Jamul
@@ginasmith2484 I live in Jamul. Its pretty
As impressed as I am with California, and I am visiting in June as a tick off my bucket list, I don't foresee myself ever being able to afford doing anything in the Golden State, other than visiting for a very brief time. Great Video though, Briggs. Keep them coming!!!
Have fun!
If you're young you can make it here.
Hi Amy. If you go to the cities you may see homeless encampments, please remember we have the best weather so homeless are attracted to come here to live outside. There are new programs to help house them but it’s never enough. There is still a lot of beauty here. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy your stay. There are lots of free things to do like hikes, beaches, museums, etc... Also, lots of job opportunities if you wanna stay.
Hope you don't have to inhale too much smoke, Amy. By June, the California fire season is in full swing.
Nice video, these all are very tiny communities and beautiful in there own ways. Except for the earthquake and fire problems. Being a native California maidu Indian and tribal member I’ve seen both disasters and unfortunately the fire one is getting much worse…
Don’t forget mudslides
Awesome videos. Since you make these specific vids on states and small towns, maybe California counties like Calaveras County would be cool. Grew up there all my life since 1985
State Highway 49 runs right through the Gold Rush area and I'd go ahead and make a blanket statement that most of the towns along it and the highways that go east from CA-49 (up into the Sierras) are for the most part decent to excellent places to live. I grew up in a small town (bedroom community actually) on CA-4 about halfway between Murphys and Arnold. Moved back after retirement and have no plans to leave, ever. Even have a burial plot paid for and waiting for me.
Avery and Hathaway pines are nice. As well as Forest Meadows.
Also the areas most likely to burn up.
Really appreciated your comments here, as we are eyeing many of the towns along CA-49 for retirement destination in next couple of years. Cheers.
Hey Calaveras neighbor.
I'm in the vineyards in bear mountain...
been at bar xx for over 2 decades
3 towns in the Sierra I’d suggest as alternatives to your million dollar towns… Angels Camp 3-400,000 dollar homes lovely location. Murphy’s same price range great winery. Arnold 250-400,000 to start. Nice town just down from Big trees State Park. Beautiful. Just remember to police your lot in spring.
"Police your lot in spring..." heh, you got that right. I live in Hathaway Pines just 5 or so miles down the hill from Arnold. Still cleaning up my property from that first storm last December.
We really don't need anymore people here.
Health care is a big factor. Thanks for a very informative post.
We took a road trip to Northern California and loved this area near Eureka.
Ferndale looks like a movie set, because it is. It's where they filmed "Outbreak", with Dustin Hoffman.
That's right.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs Also the 1979 "Salem's Lot". Just saw it the other day and it looked so familiar, just checked Wikipedia which confirms it.
They also filmed The Majestic there, based on the early 1950's starring Jim Carey.
Thanks for the great video. I love California. I would recommend you check out the towns in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There are many small rural communities tucked into the redwood forested range. I've lived in Redwood Estates for 30 years now, and think it offers a good compromise for it's proximity to the Silicon Valley economy but also being a beautiful rural area. Not cheap, but less expensive than the more suburban and urban areas of the Bay Area.
Great job. Reminder, living in some of the places might be nice to visit, but another thing to live there 12 mo a year. Example, Truckee has snow, a lot of snow.
Love Tahoe truckee when going skiing there for over 10 years, live 3 hours away .. there medical hospitals is amazing I fractured my femur Jan 2021 skiing . I’m 70 , they did a great job on repairing my femur rod and all was back home in three days. No more down hill skiing for me cross country is my new love ❤️ would love to buy a house but it just to expensive. You can’t touch a house less then one million now!
Where did you usually ski at?