Only one California city made Money Magazine’s list of best places to live. But which one?

Money Magazine released its 2020 list of best places to live in the U.S. Tuesday, and only one California city made the list. But it’s one you might not expect.

The Sacramento suburb of Roseville.

The rapidly growing Placer County hub ranked 45th on the list of 100 best cities to live in. Roseville’s affordability compared well to the rest of California, and its thriving job opportunities catapulted it into the top half.

“Most people don’t associate California with affordability, but that’s exactly what this Sacramento suburb offers. The median-priced home in Roseville costs $461,000 — that’s about 10% less than the state as a whole and less than half what it costs to live near San Francisco,” Money Magazine writer Samantha Sharf said.

The area’s affordability leads to higher rates of home ownership compared to the California average.

“With city-run electric, water and waste management keeping ownership costs low, it’s no wonder 63% of residents own their homes (compared to a 55% statewide homeownership rate) or that Roseville’s population has grown three times faster than the state’s in the last decade,” according to the article.

Industry giants like Hewlett Packard and Kaiser Permanente also contribute to a “wellspring of high-paying jobs,” the article said.

With a population of 143,000, the median household income in Roseville is $91,000.

Roseville was outranked by mostly southern and midwest havens that boasted affordable homes and low costs of living, such as Meridian, Idaho, Franklin, Tenn., St. Peters, Mo., Oviedo, Fla., and Cheyenne, Wyo.

Evans, Ga., took the top spot on Money Magazine’s list, attracting residents with its overall affordable cost of living and southern charm.

This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Only one California city made Money Magazine’s list of best places to live. But which one?."