2 California cities ranked among 100 best places to live in US. Where are they?
Looking to relocate? California is home to two of the best places to settle down, according to a new ranking.
Clovis and Redding recently ranked among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025, according to Livability.com, an online resource aimed at helping small and mid-size cities, states and regions attract and retain residents and businesses.
Livability.com scored cities based on economy, education, health, housing and other factors.
The online resource focused on small to mid-size cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 people, and a median home value of $500,000 or less.
“If you’re looking for your personal best place to live, we know what might be on your wishlist,” Livability.com said in its website. “You want to have it all: a shot at owning a home. Less time sitting in traffic. A safe and vibrant place where you can truly thrive.”
Flower Mound, Texas, was crowned the No. 1 place to live in the country thanks in part to the city’s “suburban charm and endless amenities.”
The Texas city boasts “top-rated schools, a strong economy and plenty of parks,” the site said.
Carmel, Indiana, came in second place due to its “thriving economy, award-winning schools and excellent health care options,” while Sugar Land, Texas, came in third place.
Here’s where California cities ranked:
Why is Clovis among best places to live in US?
Clovis ranked No. 22 on Livability.com’s list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025.
The city, which is roughly a 15-minute drive from downtown Fresno, had an estimated population of 127,993 residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Livability.com touted the city as a “warm, welcoming community with highly rated schools, exceptional quality of life and a relatively low cost of living in the San Joaquin Valley.”
The median home value in Clovis is $448,689, according to Livability.com.
Clovis’ main draw is Old Town, which Livability.com described as a quaint yet thoroughly modern district “with eclectic dining spots, a hopping beer scene, vibrant nightlife and fabulous shopping.”
Clovis residents have access to an “impressive number of doctors,” with 250 physicians per 100,000 residents, Livability.com said, as well as Clovis Community Medical Center, home to a Level I Trauma Center.
Clovis also has a sunny climate and a “close proximity to natural wonders,” according to Livability.com.
What makes Redding a top spot to settle down?
According to Livability.com, Redding ranked No. 81 among the top 100 places in the nation to settle down.
The online resource praised the Shasta County city as “a natural fit for residents who value a strong sense of community, a relaxed lifestyle and endless outdoor options.”
Approximately 93,502 people lived in Redding as of July 2024, the Census Bureau said.
Redding boasts mild weather, small-town excellent school systems and a “healthy, vibrant and diverse job market with many quality employers,” according to Livability.com.
What’s more, the city has a median home value of $362,940, the website said, making it easier for locals to purchase homes.
Described as the “sunniest city in California,” Redding also boasts mild weather, more than 225 miles of trails and close proximity to Shasta Lake and Lassen Volcanic National Park.
What are the best cities to live in the US?
These were the 10 best cities to live in the United States, according to Livability:
Flower Mound, Texas
Carmel, Indiana
Sugar Land, Texas
Naperville, Illinois
Roswell, Georgia
Overland Park, Kansas
Troy, Michigan
Columbia, Maryland
Olathe, Kansas
Round Rock, Texas
What are the best cities to live in the Southwest?
In addition to ranking the top 100 best cities to live in the United States, Livability.com ranked the top 20 cities in five separate regions.
A total of two California cities ranked among the best places to live in the Southwest.
Clovis came in eighth place, while Redding was No. 18.
These were the 10 best cities to live in the Southwest, according to Livability.com:
Flower Mound, Texas
Sugar Land, Texas
Round Rock, Texas
Gilbert, Arizona
Edmond, Oklahoma
New Braunfels, Texas
Loveland, Colorado
Clovis
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Midland, Texas
How did Liveability come up with its rankings?
Livability partnered with Applied Geographic Solutions to curate its list of Top 100 Best Places To Live in the U.S., based on about 100 data points measuring eight categories.
These included economy, education, transportation, housing and cost of living, according to the website.
Livability then assigned a Livability Score to more than 2,000 cities that fit its population parameters, focusing on cities with populations of 75,000 to 500,000 residents.
The top 100 scoring cities, formed the site’s Top 100 Best Places to Live, representing the top 5% of U.S. cities with populations in the studied range.
Only cities with a median home value of $500,000 or less were included in the final rankings.
Livability used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Postal Service, Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Social Services and Housing and Urban Development.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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