This NorCal City Just Topped California’s Best Places to Live List
A new statewide ranking has named Folsom the best place to live in California, with several other Sacramento-area cities also landing near the top.
The list, compiled by U.S. News & World Report, evaluated cities using five main factors: quality of life, overall value, desirability, strength of the job market and migration trends.
Folsom earned an overall score of 6.1 out of 10. The city performed well in employment metrics, receiving a 6.8 for its job market. Median household income sits around $141,000, and unemployment is roughly 4%, slightly better than the national average of 4.5%.
Housing costs, however, impacted the city’s overall value score. The median home price in Folsom is about $665,841, far above the national median of just over $370,000. Median rent is listed at $2,032, contributing to a low cost-of-living value rating.
Other Sacramento Valley cities also made the top 25 statewide, including Rocklin (No. 9), Elk Grove (No. 10), Roseville (No. 12) and Rancho Cordova (No. 25). Clovis ranked No. 32.
While Folsom topped the list within California, it placed No. 119 out of 250 cities nationwide. Johns Creek, Georgia, earned the top national spot, and Palo Alto was the second-highest-ranked California city.
Folsom is located about 15 miles northeast of Sacramento and is known for its proximity to Folsom Lake, historic Sutter Street and access to outdoor recreation.
