20 CA Beach Towns Ranked As Best Places To Live In The U.S.

CALIFORNIA — It's no surprise that 20 California beach towns landed among 50 of the best seaside towns ranked in the U.S. in a recent Stacker report. After all, the Golden State is known for its sprawling coastline and rolling surf.

Stacker gathered 2020 data from Wallethub to compare living in coastal towns across the country. Using six categories — affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life — Stacker ranked each beach town for livability.

Cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach, according to Stacker.

Read Stacker's full methodology here.

Two states ranked the highest in the report: California and Florida as both of these sunny states feature dozens of coastal havens.

Of ranked California towns, Newport Beach in Orange County ranked the highest, with Santa Monica in Los Angeles County coming in second with Carlsbad in San Diego County ranked behind them.

Of the 50 best beach towns to live in, here are the 20 ranked in California:

#4. Newport Beach, California

- Total score: 60.0

- Affordability rank: #69

- Weather rank: #56

- Safety rank: #44

- Economy rank: #44

- Education & health rank: #12

- Quality of life rank: #13

#5. Santa Monica, California

- Total score: 59.9

- Affordability rank: #122

- Weather rank: #26

- Safety rank: #108

- Economy rank: #15

- Education & health rank: #29

- Quality of life rank: #3

#8. Carlsbad, California

- Total score: 58.9

- Affordability rank: #22

- Weather rank: #69

- Safety rank: #66

- Economy rank: #8

- Education & health rank: #19

- Quality of life rank: #27

#9. Encinitas, California

- Total score: 58.2

- Affordability rank: #24

- Weather rank: #66

- Safety rank: #36

- Economy rank: #21

- Education & health rank: #14

- Quality of life rank: #33

#11. Santa Barbara, California

- Total score: 58.0
- Affordability rank: #114

- Weather rank: #82

- Safety rank: #39

- Economy rank: #38

- Education & health rank: #74

- Quality of life rank: #6

#14. Laguna Beach, California

- Total score: 57.1

- Affordability rank: #83

- Weather rank: #53

- Safety rank: #75

- Economy rank: #29

- Education & health rank: #42

- Quality of life rank: #22

#16. San Clemente, California

- Total score: 56.4

- Affordability rank: #42

- Weather rank: #48

- Safety rank: #46

- Economy rank: #23

- Education & health rank: #15

- Quality of life rank: #52

#18. Hermosa Beach, California

- Total score: 56.2

- Affordability rank: #64

- Weather rank: #30

- Safety rank: #11

- Economy rank: #18

- Education & health rank: #47

- Quality of life rank: #39

#19. Seal Beach, California

- Total score: 56.2

- Affordability rank: #93

- Weather rank: #52

- Safety rank: #65

- Economy rank: #7

- Education & health rank: #4

- Quality of life rank: #59

#22. Santa Cruz, California

- Total score: 55.3

- Affordability rank: #132

- Weather rank: #70

- Safety rank: #92

- Economy rank: #78

- Education & health rank: #49

- Quality of life rank: #5

#25. San Mateo, California

- Total score: 55.1

- Affordability rank: #130

- Weather rank: #18

- Safety rank: #47

- Economy rank: #3

- Education & health rank: #55

- Quality of life rank: #37

#26. Coronado, California

- Total score: 55.0

- Affordability rank: #43

- Weather rank: #74

- Safety rank: #16

- Economy rank: #62

- Education & health rank: #22

- Quality of life rank: #48

#27. Alameda, California

- Total score: 54.9

- Affordability rank: #81

- Weather rank: #81

- Safety rank: #58

- Economy rank: #6

- Education & health rank: #37

- Quality of life rank: #42

#28. Dana Point, California

- Total score: 54.6

- Affordability rank: #51

- Weather rank: #50

- Safety rank: #34

- Economy rank: #52

- Education & health rank: #66

- Quality of life rank: #45

#33. Redondo Beach, California

- Total score: 54.4

- Affordability rank: #101

- Weather rank: #61

- Safety rank: #27

- Economy rank: #40

- Education & health rank: #59

- Quality of life rank: #36

#35. Morro Bay, California

- Total score: 54.1

- Affordability rank: #117

- Weather rank: #55

- Safety rank: #3

- Economy rank: #26

- Education & health rank: #34

- Quality of life rank: #58

#37. Goleta, California

- Total score: 53.7

- Affordability rank: #111

- Weather rank: #46

- Safety rank: #15

- Economy rank: #22

- Education & health rank: #32

- Quality of life rank: #66

#39. Manhattan Beach, California

- Total score: 53.6

- Affordability rank: #86

- Weather rank: #60

- Safety rank: #24

- Economy rank: #20

- Education & health rank: #65

- Quality of life rank: #64

#40. San Buenaventura (Ventura), California

- Total score: 53.5

- Affordability rank: #62

- Weather rank: #126

- Safety rank: #26

- Economy rank: #47

- Education & health rank: #39

- Quality of life rank: #32

#45. Monterey, California

- Total score: 52.6

- Affordability rank: #137

- Weather rank: #58

- Safety rank: #90

- Economy rank: #51

- Education & health rank: #69

- Quality of life rank: #19

#49. Pacifica, California

- Total score: 51.6

- Affordability rank: #72

- Weather rank: #17

- Safety rank: #59

- Economy rank: #27

- Education & health rank: #24

- Quality of life rank: #112