Affordable Places to Retire in California

About Retiring in California

You frequently hear of people dreaming of retiring to Florida, Arizona, or even Mexico, but rarely to California. To many people, the high cost of living makes a California retirement out of the question. Luckily, there are some affordable places to retire in California.

If you do decide to spend your retirement years in the Golden State, to offset the high costs, avoid high profile, expensive areas. If you're on a budget, you'll definitely want to avoid Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Malibu. Instead, concentrate on less glamorous locations such as North California and the Sacramento Valley.

Remember that "affordable" is relative. Affordability really depends on your finances and your needs. What is expensive for one could very well be affordable for another. For our purposes here, "affordable" simply means that an area is less expensive that most parts of California.

Three Affordable Places to Retire in California

Redding

Redding, California is a bit underrated as a retirement destination. Compared to other cities in California, Redding offers affordable housing. While the average home price in many parts of the state is over half a million, you can buy a nice house in Redding for under $300,000. In addition, the city offers retirement communities and assisted living facilities. Located in the Sacramento Valley, Redding is surrounded by mountains and farms.

Redding has a senior center which offers many fun activities for senior citizens such as:

• Arts and crafts
• Computer classes
• Yoga
• Bridge
• Tai Chi
• Bingo
• Swimming
• Line dancing

If you don't enjoy organized social activities, there are plenty of things you can do on your own. Visit Cascade Theater or Riverfront Playhouse for a show, or listen to music by the Sacramento River. Other Redding highlights include Sundial Bridge, Lake Redding, Market Fest, and the Redding Rodeo.

Eureka

If your ideal retirement locale is one without crowds, traffic, and pollution, consider Eureka, California. Eureka is located on the Northern California coast, which means it boasts beautiful scenery and mild temperatures. Offering both majestic beaches and towering redwood trees, Eureka is a haven for nature enthusiasts. Since the average home price is only $206,000, Eureka is among the most affordable cities in California.

Cultural and entertainment opportunities include:

• Redwood Acres Fairgrounds
• Morris Graves Museum of Art
• Redwood Coast Jazz Festival
• Blues by the Bay
• Eureka Art and Culture Commission
• Preserved Victorian homes and commercial districts
• Sequoia Park Zoo
• Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Murphys

If you enjoy a small-town environment, retire to Murphys, California. With a population just over 2,000, Murphys has managed to maintain its historic feel. The town is an interesting blend of past of present, offering Goldrush-era buildings, historic hotels, and towering trees, along with fine dining and entertainment. This quirky mix has earned the town the titles “Queen of the Sierra” and “One of the Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America.”

Since Murphys is located between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, entertainment and recreation options abound and include:

• Wine tasting
• Skiing
• Golf
• Hiking and camping
• Boating and water skiing
• Murphys Irish Day
• Murphys Heritage Day

With an average home price at around $400,000, Murphys is a bit more expensive than the other featured cities, but it is still on the low end by California standards.

So, there you have it: you really don't have to be on a Hollywood budget to retire in the Golden State.