8 Fastest-Growing Cities in California [2023]

The new statistics illustrate that the population in California has been increasing over the years and in 2021 it touched 39.24 million. The most progressive state with a richly diverse environment and a technology-based economy is offering tons of opportunities to the youth, resulting in the huge growth of the population.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the fastest-growing cities in California, highlighting their unique attributes and why they are attracting so many new residents.

Fastest-Growing Cities in California

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1. Dublin 

  • Population: 1,255,963
  • Cost of living: 199.1 (US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $1.2M

Dublin is an incredible city nestled in East Bay that is 35 miles from San Francisco in the suburbs of the Oakland area.  This fastest growing California city is located near Livermore Valley’s burgeoning Wine Country with an average of 260 days of clear sunny skies. There are beautiful parks like Alamo Creek, and Emerald Glen Park to relax and foster mutually supportive interactions.

From greatschools.org, Dublin schools are rated eight to nine on a scale of 1-10 for offering the best class education to students. This small city in the Tri-Valley is safe to live in and has the lowest crime rate, making it one of the best places to shift with your family

You will easily find a lot of job opportunities in technical service, social assistance, healthcare, and retail trade departments. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. The cost of living is reasonable compared to living in San Francisco and you will be happy to be part of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. 

Interesting facts:

Fastest-Growing Cities in California_Dublin, California
Dublin, California

2. San Ramon

  • Population: 86,947 
  • Cost of living: 250.9(US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $1.6M

As one of the fastest-growing cities in California, San Ramon has a lot to offer its residents. Located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon boasts a thriving economy, top-rated schools, and beautiful parks and trails.

One of the things I love about San Ramon is its sense of community. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the popular Art and Wind Festival, which features kite-flying demonstrations and local art vendors. There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved in community organizations and volunteer work.

From a business standpoint, San Ramon is home to numerous corporations, including Chevron, AT&T, and General Electric. This has created a diverse and robust job market, attracting professionals from all over the country.

In terms of education, San Ramon Valley Unified School District consistently ranks among the top districts in the state, with excellent public schools for all grade levels.

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate San Ramon’s abundant parks and open spaces. The city has over 60 parks, including the beautiful Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve, which offers miles of hiking trails and stunning views of the surrounding hills.

Overall, San Ramon offers the perfect blend of city conveniences and natural beauty, making it a top destination for those looking to settle down in California’s fastest-growing cities.

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Interesting Facts:

  • San Ramon is home to the only museum dedicated to forest firefighting in the United States, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Museum.
  • The city’s Bishop Ranch business park was once a horse ranch owned by business magnate and former San Francisco 49ers owner, Eddie DeBartolo.
  • San Ramon’s Iron Horse Regional Trail is a popular biking and walking trail that spans 32 miles from Concord to Pleasanton, passing through the heart of San Ramon along the way.
San Ramon

3. Irvine 

  • Population: 304,408 
  • Cost of living: 187.1(US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $1.4M

Irvine is the fastest growing city in southern California with the best weather to flaunt your tan. I would probably suggest you live in Woodbury, Portola Springs, and Orchard Hills as these places are quite cheap compared to other places in Irvine. If you’re a retired person and searching for a clean place to live then come to Irvine as the quality of air is so pure. 

Unified School District and the University of California at Irvine assure excellent education for the children. Irvine never takes safety for granted and assures you that it is the safest city in the United States! Irvine is home to spectacular beaches like Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar State Beach, Victoria Beach, and many more. 

The vibrant and robust economy offers several employment options as large technology companies like Broadcom, Blizzard Entertainment, Edward Lifesciences and other high-paying tech giants sit here. The housing cost, utility cost, and cost of living are 80% higher than the U.S. average. However, the income and expenses in Irvine are high and with proper planning, you can manage them. 

Interesting facts

  • FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report recorded Irvine as having the lowest violent crime rate per capita. 
  • Waste management here is excellent and recycling is encouraged in every household. 

4. Beaumont

  • Population: 56,878 
  • Cost of living: 124.4(US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $550K 

Beaumont sits on top of San Gorgonio Pass, is a great destination for retirees, and is also one of the fastest-growing areas in California. The city is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles and Orange County beaches, making it one of the famous destinations for mountain lovers. 

You will be surprised to know that around the 1990s Beaumont was sleepy, pastoral, the land of apple orchards, and one of the booming cities in California. This place is not far from Palm Springs located in Riverside County. You can consider living in Calder Terrace, Caldwood Acres, and Lamar U. 

This area offers a lot of hiking trails like Gulf Terrace Park, Folsom hike and bike trail, and a lot more. You can also visit Wildwood Canyon State Park, Cherry Valley, Morongo Golf Club, and many more. The weather is cooler, less smoggy, and offers an affordable lifestyle. 

Interesting facts:

  • CrimeGrade.org listed Beaumont as 1st percentile for safety and crime.
  • It has many master-planned communities. 
Fastest-Growing Place in California_Beaumont
Beaumont

5. Menifee

  • Population: 102,277
  • Cost of living: 130.4(US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $550K

Menifee sits several miles away from county Temecula and is ranked one of the best growing cities in California. This hidden gem in Riverside County is famous for bright blue skies, a refreshing environment, majestic mountain views, and dog-friendly parks. Menifee holds the 42nd percentile for safety and has a safe community with low crime rates

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Your child or your grandchildren will get the best education offers from Menifee as this is home to the Menifee Valley Campus of Mt. San Jacinto College, a fast-growing community college. There are a lot of parks, green spaces, and playgrounds like Spirit Park, Lyle Marsh Inclusive Playground, Eller Park, and many more. 

The open community welcomes people of every culture and ethnicity and you will never feel isolated in this beautiful city. The job market is growing and it has witnessed a 2.2% increase over the previous years. In terms of building construction and affordability, the city is growing and developing. Unarguably, Menifee is one of the best places to live in Southern California

Interesting facts:

  • An hour drive either from San Diego and Long Beach
  • Drop Zone Water Park is an additional attraction point. 

6. Rio Vista

  • Population: 11,254
  • Cost of living: 126.3(US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $458K

Rio Vista is one of the fastest-growing cities in northern California that offers a suburban feeling and simple life to live. You can spend your memorable evening in Sandy Beach Park, Ryer Island Ferry, Deltas Farmers Market, Delta Marina Yacht Harbour, and many more. 

The public schools of Rio Vista are above average and a good place to raise your children here. This small city in the county of Solano has a well-knit community with less crime rate and affordable living. Finally, Rio Vista respects diversity and has a lot of green space to offer peace in this busy world.  

The city has witnessed an increase in job market opportunities by 0.9% over the previous year. The economy is healthy, growing, and developing with time and you will find opportunities in engineering services, building construction, code enforcement, and many more. 

Interesting facts:

  • Home of largest natural gas field offering service to tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture industry
  • Flooding is a serious issue but you can be near two metropolitan regions, San Francisco and Sacramento.

7. Los Gatos 

  • Population: 29,091 
  • Cost of living: 336.7(US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $2.1M

Santa Clara County is the fastest-growing county in California whereas Los Gatos sits with plenty of extravagant communities, wonderful medium and small homes, and other amenities. The lovely Mediterranean weather allows you to enjoy a hike, and explore Castle Rock State Park, and Vasona Lake County Park. 

According to Payscale, the cost of living in Los Gatos is 138% higher compared to other places in the United States. In terms of state income tax rates, average property value, average housing rental price, and cost of living index, Los Gatos is a little expensive. However, Dwellics analytics assign Los Gatos 63.9 (with 100 being the best) in terms of the safest place to live. 

At the base of Sierra Azules, Los Gatos is a beautiful and secure place to live in. It is a part of Silicon Valley and Netflix’s headquarter is in Los Gatos. This is also a hub of many high technology companies like Infogain, Roku, Kyvos Insight, ConnectAndSell, SuVolta, and many more. The economy is very stable and healthy and I would suggest you stay in Almond Grove and Cleffield Heights areas. 

Interesting facts: 

  • During the 1880s Los Gatos was known as Forbes Mill 
  • Areavibes graded Los Gatos excellent A+ rating in terms of crime rate, and safety. 
Fastest-Growing Town in California_Los Gatos 
Los Gatos 

8. Clovis 

  • Population: 122,864 
  • Cost of living: 115.7 (US average of 100)
  • Median home price: $500K
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Clovis is the fastest-growing small city in California that sits in the northeast quadrant of the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area. Clovis sits an hour’s drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and 30 minutes away from the Sierra National Forest. 

The economy is stable and has to experience slow economic growth and development. The unemployment rate is only 3.7%, as Clovis Community hospitals, Costco, Target, and many more offer stable employment opportunities to the people. Clovis Unified School Districts and San Joaquin College of Law strive for excellence in education. 

If you are residing in Clovis then you can be part of Clovis Rodeo, an event where you can be part of Ranch Rodeo, Rodeo Blood Drive, Jackpot Roping, and many more. You can explore the Clovis Rotary State Park, Shaver Lake, and many more. 

Interesting fact: In 2013, Clovis is ranked #1 as the best place for young families to live in.

Fastest growing cities in California – Why?

California is experiencing massive population growth and therefore to support this growing population the city is growing itself in size. Here are a few reasons why California is growing in size. 

  • High cost of living and tax rate: Before moving to California you must know that the cost of living in California is so high that sometimes the average income group of people cannot afford the expenses. Therefore, these up-and-coming cities in California have low-income tax, property tax, and other indirect tax rates.
  • Overcrowding in educational centers: In highly urban areas the education centers are much crowded and you might regret moving to California. Fortunately, with the growth of suburban areas with the promised quality of education to the little ones people are moving to these areas. 

Related Post: How Do Average People Afford to Living in California?

Final Words

The fastest-growing cities in California are termed ‘fastest-growing’ in terms of population, network, population density, significance, and many more. The growth rate reflects the population difference from year to year and helps to determine the top fast-growing cities in California. Certainly, there are pros and cons of living in California but each place, state, city, and town has its inherited tastes and values.  

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FAQs: Fastest-Growing California Cities

1. What is the fastest-growing county in California? 

A: The 5 fastest-growing counties in California are San Diego County, Riverside County, Orange County, Alameda County, and Santa Clara County. These places offer a better quality of living, good job opportunities, and a low crime rate. 

2. What is the cheapest city to live in California?

A: The Golden State is very expensive. Hence, consider staying at Oxnard, Clovis, Chico, Temecula, and Vacaville. These are the cheapest cities to stay in California

3. What is the best County to live in California?

A: In Redwood City, San Mateo County is the best county to live in California because it offers an urban-suburban feeling with good job opportunities including education, technology, and health care. 

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