Leaving Los Angeles? 5 Best Places to Move from Los Angeles

Los Angeles is considered the center of the entertainment world in the US. Plus, the scenic beauty of the city is something else as the mountains line up right next to the Pacific Ocean. But there’s a downside to it. A combination of social issues and economic hassles has led to a huge number of people leaving the city for other Californian cities and even other states.

The biggest reason for residents to leave Los Angeles is the city’s high cost of living and sky-high real estate prices. It features in the list of the ten most expensive cities in the country. Other reasons include traffic congestion (even on highways), parking, and no variety in the climatic conditions (especially for those who want to see some snow). If you’re among those planning a move, here’s a list of the best places to move from Los Angeles.

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5 Best Places To Move From Los Angeles

1. Bakersfield, California
2. San Diego, California
3. Sacramento, California
4. Tucson, Arizona
5. Henderson, Nevada

Bakersfield, California

Located at a distance of just over a hundred miles north of Los Angeles, the city of Bakersfield has the Kern River running across it. A part of the Kern County, Bakersfield sits right next to the Sequoia National Forest in the southern San Joaquin Valley of central California. The reasons to settle in this city are many, starting from the fact that it’s a hub for agriculture and energy production to the extent that it’s one of the most productive agricultural cities and oil producers in the country.

Apart from this, Bakersfield is known for its country music. In fact, it’s often referred to as the country music capital of the west coast. The city has everything that you’d look for in your hometown - affordable housing, a strong job market, brilliant schools and universities, restaurants, coffee shops, art and culture, nightlife, and most importantly, high quality of life. The best sectors in Bakersfield to find work in are manufacturing, agriculture, distribution, healthcare, oil extraction, and government. A few of the biggest employers in the city are Amazon, Grimmway Farms, Bolthouse Farms, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Allied Universal, Esparza Enterprises, and Mercy Hospital of Bakersfield.

Bakersfield is well-connected to the rest of the state via Highways 99 and I-5. It experiences an arid subtropical climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. The people of Bakersfield enjoy a total of 272 sunny days a year, seven inches of rain, and no snowfall whatsoever. On the cost of living index, the city has a score of 102.6, slightly higher than the national average (100). If you compare it with the cost of living in Los Angeles (173.3), you’ll be happy to know that you will be able to save quite a lot on utilities, food, groceries, housing, etc.

Downsides: The property crime rate in Bakersfield (39.34 per 1,000 residents) is higher than the national average. Due to the dry and hot weather conditions, there is a high risk of wildfires, along with earthquakes and floods. You’ll probably need a private car to move around conveniently.

Population: 391,438

Median Home Value: $368,025

Monthly Rent: $1,368

Median Household Income: $65,687

Unemployment Rate: 8%

Best Neighborhoods To Live In: Seven Oaks, Tevis Ranch, Terra Vista, Downtown Bakersfield, Qualiwood, Amberton, River Oaks, and Olde Stockdale.

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San Diego, California

San Diego is located just below Los Angeles and just above the US-Mexican border with the Pacific Ocean to its west. Counted among the country’s best cities to live and retire in, San Diego has been honored with the name ‘America’s Finest City’. It’s a relatively young city with a median age of just 35, making it a paradise for young professionals to look for work with abundant opportunities available. San Diego is a beautiful beach city but it has a lot more to offer like its perfect weather throughout the year, high quality of life, excellent educational institutions, warm and friendly residents, scenic beauty, etc. You’ll also get to meet and mix with people from different backgrounds from all over the world.

San Diego has a cost of living index of 160.1 which is, of course, higher than the country average but a little lower than that of your current city, Los Angeles. San Diego experiences an arid-subtropical climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers. Due to the pleasant weather at all times, you can step out to enjoy anytime without worrying about the temperatures. The city gets 266 sunny days a year, just around 12 inches of rainfall, and there’s no snowfall.

If we talk about the city’s job market, there will not be any struggle to find work. San Diego’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the presence of the military have resulted in defense becoming the biggest industry. US Navy, Marine Corps, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics NASSCO are the biggest employers in the defense sector. Also, healthcare and education provide a huge number of opportunities with the major employers being The University of California San Diego, Sharp Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, etc. San Diego is safer than most of the major US cities. It has a violent and property crime rate of 3.88 and 18.10 per 1,000 residents, respectively. This is even better than the national average.

Downsides: Real estate prices and income tax are too high in San Diego. Public transportation is not sufficient and you’ll need your own car to get around. Even after getting a car, you’ll face issues like parking and traffic congestion.

Population: 1,429,653

Median Home Value: $969,595

Monthly Rent: $2,756

Median Household Income: $83,454

Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

Best Neighborhoods To Live In: Little Italy, Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, North Park, East Village, Mission Valley, Gaslamp Quarter, San Marcos, and Solana Beach.

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Sacramento, California

Serving as the capital city of California, Sacramento is often referred to as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, given the agriculture scene and the high number of farms in the city. Although not as popular as other cities in the state like San Francisco and Los Angeles, it’s still one of the most sought-after places to live in the US. The climate of Sacramento can best be described as the Mediterranean type with mild, rainy winters and hot summers. There are as many as 270 days of sunshine in a year, 20 inches of rainfall, and no snowfall.

Sacramento has a cost of living index of 118.2, which is a little higher than the national average (100) but much lower than that in Los Angeles. The main reason behind this is the city’s affordable housing. But there’s quite a lot more than just affordable houses that Sacramento has to offer. People in large numbers move in every year due to the fact that it is an educational hub and one of the most diverse cities in the US. Youngsters, in particular, are attracted to Sacramento because of the job market, high quality of life, amazing music scene, scenic beauty, local craft brewers, restaurants, and cafes.

Those who are looking for job opportunities, allow us to tell you that there is no shortage. Government, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, hospitality, etc are some of the major sectors here. Some of the largest employers in the city are the State of California, Intel, UC Davis Health, McClatchy, Sacramento Kinds, Sacramento County Department of Personnel Services, Sutter Health, and Sacramento City Unified School District.

Downsides: It gets extremely hot during the summer season and the taxes are high in Sacramento. The crime rate in the city is also higher than the country’s average. The population is growing as a result of which, the traffic is becoming a problem.

Population: 531,285

Median Home Value: $502,228

Monthly Rent: $1,792

Median Household Income: $65,847

Unemployment Rate: 4.7%

Best Neighborhoods To Live In: Fair Oaks, Granite Bay, North Oak Park, Downtown Sacramento, East Sacramento, Davis, Roseville, Folsom, and Elk Grove.

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Tucson, Arizona

Just around sixty miles north of the US-Mexico border, the city of Tucson is surrounded by five mountain ranges and is a part of Arizona’s Pima County. After Phoenix, Tucson is the second-largest city in Arizona and it’s because of its proximity to the border that you’ll get to see a heavy influence of the Mexican culture in Tucson’s food, architecture, and art. Popularly known as The Old Pueblo, Tucson is named among the best places to raise a family. However, that’s not the only purpose the city serves. Thousands of people move to Tucson every year in search of better job opportunities, great educational institutions, and even just to get away from the extreme cold weather in the northern parts of the country.

It’s a great place to be with all the amenities, amazing public attractions, its natural beauty with the Sonoran desert and mountains, landscapes, outdoor activities, cowboy culture, architecture, and varying food and beverages. Tucson experiences a subtropical semi-desert climate with mild winters and hot summers. There is a total of 286 sunny days, 12 inches of rain, and no snowfall in a year. The weather remains pleasant for most parts of the year, as a result of which, people easily move around on bicycles. You need not necessarily own a car. The five mountain ranges nearby give you a chance to indulge in activities like mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and skiing.

The cost of living index shows a score of 91.6 for Tucson, which is nearly half of Los Angeles (173.3). Despite the low cost of living, the quality of life in this city is pretty awesome. If you’re eager to know about the job market, here it is. The top industries to look for work are defense, military, tourism, manufacturing, higher education, and healthcare. Some of the biggest employers are the University of Arizona, Davis-Monthan Airforce Base, Raytheon, Honeywell Aerospace, IBM, and Ventana Medical Systems.

Downsides: The summer season in Tucson gets extremely hot. Public transportation is insufficient and you might need your own car if you can’t use bicycles all the time. You’re also likely to face the issue of traffic congestion. The property crime rate in Tucson is higher than the national average.

Population: 557,718

Median Home Value: $311,868

Monthly Rent: $1,200

Median Household Income: $45,227

Unemployment Rate: 3.6%

Best Neighborhoods To Live In: Sam Hughes, Armory Park, Oro Valley, Dunbar Spring, Catalina Foothills, West University Neighborhood, and Civano.

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Henderson, Nevada

The second-most populous city in Nevada after Las Vegas, Henderson is located around 16 miles southeast of Las Vegas in Clark County. Having been ranked the second-safest city in the US by Forbes and the number one big city in Nevada by Areavibes.com in the past, Henderson is easily one of the best places to live for people of all age groups. It’s not far from the famous city of Las Vegas which means that you can pay a visit anytime you want for some out-of-the-world entertainment while Henderson retains a small-town feel with all the required amenities. The biggest highlight of the city is its open spaces. Henderson has more than fifty lush-green parks which are so beautiful that you can lose the track of time.

Henderson is hailed for its strong economy, master-planned communities, top-quality schools and universities, high quality of life, hiking trails, restaurants, and bars. You’ll be delighted to know that Nevada is among the nine states in the country where there is no income tax. Henderson has a cost of living index of 117.7 which is higher than the national average but significantly lower than that in Los Angeles. The city experiences a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. Every year, it gets 297 days of sunshine, just five inches of rain, and no snowfall.

The city attracts a huge number of people just because of its robust job market. The top sectors to find work in are government, healthcare, social assistance, education, construction, retail, accommodation and food services, tourism, entertainment, and technology. The biggest employers in the city are Barclay’s Services LLC, City of Henderson, St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa, Fiesta Henderson Casino Hotel, and Titanium Metals Corp of America. You know Henderson is one of the safest cities in the country as it has violent and property crime rates of 2.18 and 14.96 per 1,000 residents, respectively. This is significantly lower than that in LA and it’s also lower than the national average.

Downsides: During the summer season, the heat is sometimes unbearable. The real estate prices are above the country average in Henderson.

Population: 352,202

Median Home Value: $494,264

Monthly Rent: $1,739

Median Household Income: $75,430

Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

Best Neighborhoods To Live In: Westgate, Green Valley South, Sun City Anthem, MacDonald Ranch, Black Mountain, McCullough Hills, and Inspirada.

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Summing Up

These are the best possible options for you to consider setting up residence in whenever you decide to move out of the City of Angels. The cost of living in all these cities is way below Los Angeles and that is often the most important factor when you’re moving from one place to another. You can choose to move to any of these cities depending on what suits you the best!

See also: Best Moving Companies in Los Angeles, CA

FAQs On Best Places To Move From Los Angeles

What City Is Most Like Los Angeles?

Some of the cities in the US with a similar lifestyle to LA are San Deigo in California, Miami in Florida, New York City in New York, and San Francisco in California.

Which Are The Most Affordable Cities To Live In California?

The most affordable cities to settle down in California are Bakersfield, Eureka, Fontana, Redlands, Vacaville, Oxnard, Clovis, and Chico.

What Is The Best Place To Relocate From California?

The best places to set up residence after you move out of California are Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, North Carolina, New York State, and Florida.

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