With great schools and ample green space, the City of Elk Grove has been named the best city to live in California by Livability.com. Elk Grove was also ranked 6th for Best Places to Live nationwide.
Livability puts the rankings out every year.
“Our data-driven ranking examines more than 2,000 cities nationwide, using dozens of data points to pinpoint the absolute best communities for residents,” the website states.
The best place to live in the country, according to Livability, is Broomfield, Colorado. Beaverton, Oregon came in second place, followed by Meridian, Ohio.
Fresno County is home to the second-best city in California, according to Livability. Clovis ranked #8 nationwide and #2 in the state. Murrieta came in third place among California locales and was 14th nationwide.
Here is what Livability had to say about each of these cities:
Elk Grove
Elk Grove, CA, has exploded in recent years. As a suburb of Sacramento – just 20 minutes south – this community of nearly 177,000 is one of the best places to live out West, and that’s no surprise. Industry has discovered the advantages of calling Elk Grove home, with heavyweights like Apple and Kaiser Permanente having regional headquarters here.
The city is also on track to be a health center, with the opening of a new full-service hospital in the next year or so. Dignity Health Elk Grove Hospital will be equipped with the latest technology to provide patient care. Also announced are new outpatient health care services at UC Davis, which is expanding with a 20-acre parcel in Elk Grove. The city takes that healthy initiative even one step further, committing to the well-being of residents by being a leader in sustainable building practices and environmental stewardship. In fact, back in 2015, Elk Grove built the first Special Waste Collection Center in the country powered by solar energy.
Residents are active thanks to more than 90 parks outfitted with a variety of amenities. Elk Grove also boasts an assortment of tasty restaurants and excellent schools, attracting both young professionals and families alike.
Clovis
Located east of Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley, Clovis, CA, will charm you with its old-town feel and reel you in with its commitment to residents’ health and well-being.
Established as a freight stop on the San Joaquin Valley Railroad, Clovis’ main drag (or Old Town, as it’s known) looks as though you’re taking a step back in time, with cobblestone streets and old-fashioned storefronts. But this district is thoroughly modern today, with eclectic dining spots, a hopping beer scene, vibrant nightlife and fabulous shopping (don’t miss the Vintage & Antiques District). Clovis also hosts a Vintage Market three times a year with even more antiques and collectibles.
But, of course, while Clovis relishes its Old West history, it also fully embraces being a city of forward thinkers, and living in Clovis means always looking toward the future. Though many communities in California take environmentalism seriously, Clovis takes it a step further with its comprehensive Urban Greening Master Plan to ensure the city is sustainable. This plan identifies strategies for bicycle transportation, urban forest management, improved air and water quality, and generally ensuring that Clovis is a healthier city in the future.
In addition to environmental health, Clovis is a great place to take care of your physical health. The nearly 125,000 people who live in Clovis have access to its impressive number of doctors, a level 1 trauma center, and nearby health care facilities in Fresno.
Murrieta
No matter your speed, you’ll find unlimited fun in Murrieta, CA, and its surroundings. Adrenaline junkies can take laps at Cahuilla Creek Motocross Park or water ski at nearby freshwater lakes. At the same time, those looking for a more peaceful Saturday itinerary can hike Tenaja Falls Trail to a waterfall or hit the links at Bear Creek Golf Club, which is nestled in the foothills below the Santa Rosa Plateau.
A fast-growing, mid-sized city conveniently located between San Diego and Los Angeles, Murrieta has safe neighborhoods and plenty of room to roam. The city has 52 parks, 1,350 acres of open space and trails, and a vibrant downtown area with shops and restaurants. The location is known for its affordable cost of living. It has become one of the state’s fastest-growing communities in the last several decades, thanks to its proximity to other major cities.
On top of all that, Murrieta’s Mediterranean-like climate makes spending time in the great outdoors a year-round thing, and, at the end of the day, there are a couple of dozen wineries and breweries to kick back and relax at.
View the report here.