11 Best Places to Live in California

2) San Francisco

San Francisco came in as the 16th best place to live in the U.S. It’s an iconic city with famous images of the Painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge recognizable to millions. Tourism is a major industry, as are business and finance. The city is an amazing mix of cultures, lifestyles, and unique neighborhoods. Its home to the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and it has the largest LGBT population in the country. San Francisco also came in second on the “30 Most Fun Places to Live” list because of attractions like the Fisherman’s Wharf, ample park space and three major league teams. Forty-seven high schools have been ranked as top schools. The average salary is $66,900 compared to the national average of $48,320, but cost of living is much higher than the national average.