This global magazine says Sacramento is the best place to live in California. Here’s why

If you’ve ever argued that Sacramento is the best place to live in California — even better than San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego — you now have the data to back it up, courtesy of Forbes.

In a ranking of the “Best Places to Live in California in 2023,” Forbes Advisor assessed metropolitan areas in the state and graded them based factors such as city size, diversity, crime rate, unemployment rate and living costs. It also considered public transit, activities and accessibility to healthcare.

Sacramento made it at No. 1 on the list of 10.

“California’s capital city is family-friendly, has ample educational opportunities and offers a reasonable cost of living,” Forbes stated in its ranking. “Its unemployment rate is among the lowest in the state as government, healthcare and technology are core industries.”

San Diego landed at No. 2 and was noted for its abundant beach access and being home to the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet, which is known for employing people in biotech, healthcare and tourism.

San Francisco is at No. 3. Although it is an “economic hub of northern California,” Forbes stated that the city is the most expensive to live in.

Los Angeles ranked No. 4, with its congested traffic, poor walkability and high crime rates.

Down the list, San Jose made No. 5, Vallejo at 6, Oxnard at 7 and Modesto at 8.

Fresno made it at No. 9 for its fresh produce and healthcare employment. But its crime and overall unemployment rates are high; it has poor air quality and is known for its hot summers.

Finishing the list is Bakersfield.

“Consider Bakersfield if you want to live in one of California’s most affordable cities that’s also close to Los Angeles,” Forbes stated. But it lacks nightlife and is known for its pollution from the agriculture, healthcare and oil industry which is dominant in the city.

This story was originally published January 13, 2023 at 12:37 PM.