11 Best Places to Retire in California

11. Modoc

Score: 11

Median home price: $157,900

Cost of living index: 105

Crime index: 47

Doctors per 100k: 52

Average commute time: 17.5

Situated in the northern area of California, Modoc County borders Oregon and Nevada on two of its sides. The land is home to under 10,000 people, and it’s one of the most sparsely populated counties in the entire state. There’s a high geographical diversity here. This means you’ll find Medicine Lake Highlands in the north, a huge shield volcano, as well as plenty other volcanic mountains. There’s also plenty of forests, rivers, and lakes, hot springs, and lava caves and more. One thing’s for sure, if you move here there’s plenty of outdoorsy things to do.

The median home price in the area is close to $158,000, while the cost of living index is an acceptable 105. If you want to complain about that extra 5 above the national average, then you should consider the index is 242 for San Francisco. The average commute time is 17.5 minutes, which is nothing to complain about.

Robert F. Ettner, Natural Resources Staff Officer, Siskiyou National Forest, US Forest Service