Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for any family. If it takes a village to raise a child, that may just extend all the way to your next-door neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for a great place to raise their kids, oftentimes this decision
means balancing—and prioritizing—certain community resources and costs. Stacker compiled a list of the best places to raise a family in California using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Keep reading to see if where you grew
up or currently live made the list. You may also like: People who retire comfortably avoid these financial advisor mistakes Best places to raise a family in California Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for any family. If it takes a village to raise a child, that may just extend all the way to your next-door
neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for a great place to raise their kids, oftentimes this decision means balancing—and prioritizing—certain community resources and costs. Stacker compiled a list of the best places to raise a family in California using data from Niche. Niche ranks
places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Keep reading to see if where you grew up or currently live made the list. You may also like: People who retire comfortably avoid these financial advisor mistakes #25. Foster City - Population: 33,997 - Pictured:
106 Goldhunter Ct, Foster City ($2.5 million, 4 bedrooms) #24. Moraga - Population: 17,539 - Pictured: 30 Quail Xing, Moraga ($2.5 million, 1 bedrooms) #23. San Carlos - Population: 30,154 - Pictured: 147 Oakley Ave, San Carlos ($4.0 million, 5 bedrooms) #22. Corte Madera - Population: 9,838 - Pictured: 39 Edison Ave, Corte Madera ($2.0 million, 3 bedrooms)
- Median
home value: $1,245,800 (57% own)
- Median rent: $3,209 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $158,529
- Top public schools: Carlmont High School (A+), San Mateo High School (A+), Hillsdale High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Kids Connection Elementary School (unavailable), Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School (unavailable), Bright Horizon Chinese School (unavailable)
- Median home value: $1,140,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $2,128 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $140,378
- Top public schools: Campolindo High School (A+), Miramonte High School (A+), Acalanes High School
(A+)
- Top private schools: The Saklan School (A+)
- Median home value: $1,625,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,321 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $182,083
- Top public schools: Carlmont High School
(A+), San Carlos Charter Learning Center (A), Tierra Linda Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Charles School (unavailable)
- Median home value: $1,200,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $2,642 (34%
rent)
- Median household income: $149,439
- Top public schools: Redwood High School (A+), Tamalpais High School (A+), Sir Francis Drake High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Marin Country Day School (A), Marin Montessori School (unavailable), Corte Madera Montessori (unavailable)
#21. San Marino
- Population: 13,194
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (86% own)
- Median rent: $3,293 (14% rent)
- Median household income: $166,607
- Top public schools: San Marino High School (A+), K.L. Carver Elementary (A+), Valentine Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Southwestern Academy (A+)
- Pictured: 999 Rosalind Rd, San Marino ($19.8 million, 6 bedrooms)
#20. Ladera Ranch
- Population: 27,277
- Median home value: $820,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,341 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $161,348
- Top public schools: San Juan Hills High School (A+), Tesoro High School (A+), Capistrano Valley High
School (A+)
- Top private schools: Montessori of Ladera Ranch (unavailable), Ladera Ranch KinderCare (unavailable), The Goddard School - Ladera Ranch (unavailable)
- Pictured: 26 Catalina Vista Rd, Ladera Ranch ($3.5 million, 4 bedrooms)
#19. Palo Alto
- Population: 66,573
- Median home value: $2,000,001
(55% own)
- Median rent: $2,569 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $158,271
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (A+), Palo Alto High School (A+), Los Altos High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Castilleja School (A+), Kehillah Jewish High School (A+), The Girls' Middle School (A+)
- Pictured: 890 Robb Rd, Palo Alto ($19.5 million, 7 bedrooms)
#18. Irvine
- Population: 273,157
- Median home value: $838,000 (47% own)
- Median rent: $2,361 (53% rent)
- Median household income: $105,126
- Top public schools: Orange County School of the Arts (A+), University High School (A+), Northwood High School (A+)
- Top private schools: TVT Community Day School (A+), Pacific Academy (A+), Crean Lutheran High School (A+)
- Pictured: 39 Echo Gln, Irvine ($11.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#17. Rolling Hills
- Population: 1,513
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (95% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $250,001
- Top public schools: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (A+), Palos Verdes High School (A+), Vista Grande Elementary
School (A+)
- Pictured: 1 Pine Tree Ln, Rolling Hills ($16.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#16. San Ramon
- Population: 75,648
- Median home value: $958,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,391 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $160,783
- Top public schools: Dougherty Valley High School (A+), Monte Vista High
School (A+), California High School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Dorris - Eaton School (unavailable), The Child Day School - San Ramon / Hidden Canyon (unavailable), Montessori School of San Ramon (unavailable)
- Pictured: 257 Zinnia Ct, San Ramon ($2.5 million, 4 bedrooms)
#15. Kentfield
- Population: 7,020
-
Median home value: $1,997,100 (81% own)
- Median rent: $2,187 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $214,081
- Top public schools: Redwood High School (A+), Tamalpais High School (A+), Sir Francis Drake High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Marin Catholic High School (A+)
- Pictured: 215 Laurel Grove Ave, Kentfield ($5.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#14. Pleasanton
- Population: 81,717
- Median home value: $986,800 (70% own)
- Median rent: $2,396 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $156,400
- Top public schools: Amador Valley High School (A+), Foothill High School (A+), Dublin High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Stratford School - Pleasanton (unavailable), Hacienda Child Development Center (unavailable), Hacienda School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1853 Via Di Salerno, Pleasanton ($5.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#13. San Anselmo
- Population: 12,525
- Median home value: $1,066,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,930 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $128,212
- Top public schools: Redwood High School (A+), Tamalpais High School (A+), Sir Francis Drake High
School (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Anselm School (unavailable), San Anselmo Montessori School (unavailable), Irene M. Hunt School of Marin (unavailable)
- Pictured: 29 Timothy Ave, San Anselmo ($2.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
#12. Palos Verdes Estates
- Population: 13,434
- Median home value: $2,000,000 (86%
own)
- Median rent: $2,683 (14% rent)
- Median household income: $194,543
- Top public schools: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (A+), Palos Verdes High School (A+), Point Vicente Elementary School (A+)
- Pictured: 609 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates ($10.5 million, 5 bedrooms)
#11. Albany
-
Population: 19,804
- Median home value: $882,500 (47% own)
- Median rent: $1,856 (53% rent)
- Median household income: $95,400
- Top public schools: Albany High School (A+), Marin Elementary School (A), Albany Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Tilden Preparatory School - Albany (A+)
- Pictured: 1245 Washington Ave, Albany ($1.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
#10. Santa Monica
- Population: 91,577
- Median home value: $1,382,700 (29% own)
- Median rent: $1,802 (71% rent)
- Median household income: $96,570
- Top public schools: Santa Monica High School (A+), Franklin Elementary School (A+), Grant Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (A+), New Roads School (A+), Pacifica Christian High School (A+)
- Pictured: 121 Esparta Way, Santa Monica ($14.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#9. Piedmont
- Population: 11,317
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (88% own)
- Median rent: $3,229 (12% rent)
- Median household income: $224,659
- Top public schools: Piedmont High School (A+), Beach Elementary School (A+), Piedmont Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Corpus Christi School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 94 King Ave, Piedmont ($4.5 million, 3 bedrooms)
#8. Loyola
- Population: 3,367
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (92% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (8% rent)
- Median household income: $246,563
- Top public schools: Los Altos High School (A+),
Mountain View High School (A+), Monta Vista High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Waldorf School of the Peninsula Los Altos Campus (unavailable)
- Pictured: 796 Terrace Dr, Los Altos ($8.0 million, 5 bedrooms)
#7. Manhattan Beach
- Population: 35,500
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (70% own)
- Median rent:
$2,628 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $153,023
- Top public schools: Mira Costa High School (A+), Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary School (A+), Pacific Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: American Martyrs Catholic School (unavailable), Manhattan Academy (unavailable), Montessori School of Manhattan Beach (unavailable)
- Pictured: 2316 The Strand, Manhattan Beach ($16.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#6. Monte Sereno
- Population: 3,479
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (94% own)
- Median rent: $2,722 (6% rent)
- Median household income: $250,001
- Top public schools: Saratoga High School (A+), Los Gatos High School (A+), Saratoga Elementary School (A)
- Pictured: 18216 Daves Ave, Monte Sereno ($7.2 million, 5 bedrooms)
#5. West Menlo Park
- Population: 4,160
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (78% own)
- Median rent: $2,980 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $214,167
- Top public schools: Menlo-Atherton High School (A+), La Entrada Middle School (A), Las Lomitas
Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: University Heights Montessori Children's Center (unavailable)
- Pictured: 2072 Ashton Ave, Menlo Park ($3.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
#4. South Pasadena
- Population: 25,661
- Median home value: $1,071,000 (47% own)
- Median rent: $1,802 (53% rent)
- Median
household income: $104,308
- Top public schools: South Pasadena Senior High School (A+), Monterey Hills Elementary School (A+), Arroyo Vista Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Holy Family Catholic School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1339 Garfield Ave, South Pasadena ($3.6 million, 6 bedrooms)
#3. Los Altos Hills
- Population: 8,505
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (92% own)
- Median rent: $2,674 (8% rent)
- Median household income: $250,001
- Top public schools: Henry M. Gunn High School (A+), Los Altos High School (A+), Mountain View High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Pinewood School - Upper Campus (A+)
- Pictured: 10570 Blandor Way, Los Altos Hills ($21.0 million, 6 bedrooms)
#2. Mountain View
- Population: 81,656
- Median home value: $1,413,500 (42% own)
- Median rent: $2,456 (58% rent)
- Median household income: $139,720
- Top public schools: Los Altos High School (A+), Mountain View High School (A+), Homestead High School (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Francis High School (A+), Waldorf School of the Peninsula - Mountain View Campus (A+), German
International School of Silicon Valley - Mountain View Campus (A)
- Pictured: 1142 Fordham Way, Mountain View ($3.6 million, 3 bedrooms)
#1. La Cañada Flintridge
- Population: 20,261
- Median home value: $1,518,000 (91% own)
- Median rent: $2,858 (9% rent)
- Median household income: $175,788
- Top
public schools: La Canada High School (A+), Crescenta Valley High School (A+), Palm Crest Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Flintridge Preparatory School (A+), Flintridge Sacred Heart (A+), St. Francis High School (A+)
- Pictured: 1600 Fairmount Ave, La Canada Flintridge ($9.0 million, 5 bedrooms)