A Silicon Valley neighborhood ranked as the best place to live in California and No. 3 in the United States, according to Niche.
Niche’s 2026 Best Places to Live list compares more than 18,000 towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods nationwide, ranking communities based on quality-of-life measures.
The rankings factor in public data from the U.S. Census, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CDC, along with proprietary research and millions of resident reviews, according to the data website. Niche evaluates cost of living, crime, public schools, job opportunities, and local amenities.
Several California locations, particularly neighborhoods in Palo Alto, appear among the highest‑ranked places to live in the United States.
Evergreen Park named best place to live in California
Evergreen Park, a neighborhood in Palo Alto, ranked No. 1 in California and No. 3 nationally, according to Niche’s 2026 rankings.
The neighborhood, in Santa Clara County, has a population of about 2,700 residents and offers an urban feel, according to Niche. Most residents rent their homes, and the area features parks, restaurants, and coffee shops.
The median home value in Evergreen Park is about $1.6 million, while the median monthly rent is roughly $3,400, reflecting the high cost of living common across Silicon Valley.
Public schools serving the neighborhood are highly rated, contributing to Evergreen Park’s overall A+ grade from Niche. The area also scores highly for outdoor activities, health and fitness, and walkability.
“Evergreen Park is one of the best places to live in California,” Niche said in its neighborhood description, citing strong schools, amenities and job access. Residents in the area also tend to lean politically liberal, according to the site.
Top 30 places to live in California, according to Niche
Here are the top places to live in California — including cities, neighborhoods and suburbs — and their national rankings, according to Niche’s 2026 list:
(The full list includes more than 2,500 California cities, suburbs, and neighborhoods.)
Top 10 places to live in the U.S., according to Niche
Here are the top 10 places to live in the U.S. (including cities, city neighborhoods, suburbs, and towns), according to Niche:
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: These are the 30 best places to live in California, new study finds
Reporting by James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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