4 California cities ranked among the best places for retirees in this income bracket

Dreaming of the Golden State as the golden years creep up behind you? Well, if you want to retire in California, you may be in luck.

Four West Coast cities made a new national list of the best places for upper-middle-class retirees — but only if you have the cash to flash. Using the Pew Research Center’s middle-class range, a MoneyLion analysis examined retirement destinations for upper-middle-class households, or those earning around $125,000 to $160,000 annually.

The study ranked 18 towns across the United States, where over 25% of residents are aged 65 or older, calculating the cost of living by averaging each destination’s mortgage and expenditure costs to determine if they fit comfortably within upper-middle-class means.

And California landed four spots on the list:

• Lincoln, Placer County (No. 9)
• Palm Desert, Riverside County (No. 16)
• Fair Oaks, Sacramento County (No. 17)
• La Quinta, Riverside County (No. 18)

For those with the financial means, these four cities offer a mix of golf courses, desert landscapes, access to vineyards and local attractions, and suburban charm — provided your retirement savings and investments can cover the premium price tag.

The study factored in livability scores, percentage of seniors within the community, and the doubled cost-of-living necessities, using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, to determine what retirees need for a comfortable lifestyle. Necessities in these California cities range from about $65,000 to $76,000 per year, a scope that shines a spotlight on the state’s famously high cost of living even for relatively affluent retirees.

Six of the top spots were dominated by Florida communities, with Estero, Delray Beach, Bonita Springs and Palm City taking the first four positions and Arizona’s Prescott rounding out the top five.

The findings come as more Californians — including high earners — consider leaving the state due to taxes, housing costs and quality-of-life concerns.

Still, the appeal of California’s weather, amenities, access to diverse nature and lifestyle keeps some retirees committed to staying in-state.

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