While many people have chosen to move out of California in recent years, often to places that are cheaper to live, there are still many moving in, with most arriving from Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, according to a report by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office.
The Golden State has long been a place that people dream of moving to, whether it’s to buy one of the Oakland houses for sale and enjoy all that the San Francisco Bay Area offers or take advantage of the sunshine in a Southern California beach town and spend days soaking it up on golden sands. While there are many reasons it’s so desirable, these are some of the top people give for wanting to live in this state.
The Jobs
While the cost of living may be high, salaries tend to be a lot higher as compared to other states. If you’re a Registered Nurse, you’ll earn more here than anywhere else, with an average annual salary of $102,700. Some of the best jobs in the country can be found in California, with companies like Apple, Concentrix, Kaiser Permanente, Gap, and Intel here. There are nearly 4 million small businesses employing almost half the state’s workforce too.
If it were its own nation, the state would have the world’s fifth-largest economy, and it’s incredibly diverse too. California is one of the major hubs of world finance, while Silicon Valley, Hollywood, agriculture, and manufacturing all make significant contributions.
Diverse Landscapes
The landscapes in California are incredibly diverse, too, with everything from beautiful beaches and Mediterranean-like islands to soaring mountains and desert terrain. It’s home to nine of the 61 U.S. national parks, including one of the world’s grandest, Yosemite, where you’ll find one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, Yosemite Falls, and numerous others. There’s the greatest non-Great Lake, Lake Tahoe (although it’s shared with Nevada), volcanic destinations like Lassen, and the planet’s tallest and oldest trees with redwoods and sequoias.
Outdoor Adventure
With the variety of landscapes, comes outdoor adventures, with just about everything here possible – it would take a book to describe them all.You can go climbing and bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park or snorkel clear blue waters off Catalina Island among colorful fish and other marine life. You can also go for long beach whale watching to be able to see several species of whales as well as dolphins. Of course, it’s famous for surfing, with outstanding waves from San Diego to Santa Cruz and beyond, and there are countless sparkling lakes for a wide range of water sports, too, like paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. The many rushing rivers provide world-class whitewater rafting, while more peaceful stretches are ideal for catch-and-release fly fishing. And the hiking here is out of this world, with trails leading to spots where you’ll rarely see another soul, especially in remote reaches of the Sierra Nevada.
Food and Drink
California is renowned for producing some of the world’s best wine, with four primary wine regions, including the North Coast, Central Coast, Central Valley, and South Coast, for endless tasting and touring options just about anywhere you live. You’ll also find some of the best microbrews, like Sierra Nevada and Firestone. All of those delicious drinks can be paired with what’s arguably the most diverse food selection in the world, with everything from San Francisco sourdough and fresh seafood to authentic Mexican and Asian, not to mention all that fresh produce.
