11 Best Places to Live in California

9) Bakersfield

Bakersfield is another affordable option on California’s relative scale and was ranked 97th in the country. Some residents even commute to Los Angeles two hours away because of the savings. Agriculture, distribution, oil and energy are major industries offering employment. Skilled labor also pays higher hourly wages here. Besides fresh food from local farms, residents enjoy biking the ample local paths, as well as exploring the parks, history and art museums, national forests and enjoying proximity to the mountains. The city hosts monthly festivals and events such as the Bakersfield Jazz Festival and Stampede Days Rodeo. Bakersfield is one of the most conservative, Republican-identifying areas in the state and half of the households are families with children. Downsides of the area are a higher than average unemployment and crime rate, as well as poor air quality.