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Moving to California in 2024? Complete Moving Guide

This is a complete guide for Moving to California.
Get all the information you need to know about moving to California.

Are you thinking of moving to California?

So, you are making plans to move to Golden State, generally known as California. It is recommended as one of the best places to live on earth and is the most populous state in the USA. The state has sun-kissed beaches, Disneyland, giant redwoods, sprawling vineyards, and more adventurous options. The state is home to thousands of startups and employment opportunities. The tech and entertainment industries are thriving in California and thus it makes one of the best places to live. If you feel that all these features will add value to your life and you are considering moving to California, check out this guide. In our California State guide, you will get details about the state that will make your transition easy.

This moving guide will help you in gathering as much information as possible for your California move.

Make the Most of All the Information You Need to Know About Moving to California Here's a quick summary of what we're going to cover in this California state guide:

California Demographics

California is home to a diverse population where people from different cultures come together to create a vibrant community.

Male vs Female population of California in 2022

The total population of California is around 38,802,500 and the gender specific population is represented below:

Gender	Population	Percent of Total Population
Male	19,321,563	49.2%
Female	19,989,452	50.8%
Total	39,311,015	100%

Population distribution by ethnicity in California in 2022

According to World Population Review, the ethnic composition of California population is represented in the table:

Ethnicity	Population	Total Population Percentage
White	24,506,231	62.8%
Hispanic or Latino	15,629,863	40%
Asian	5,095,507	13.1%
Black or African American	2,385,933	6%
American Indian or Alaska Native	731,630	1.9%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	184,415	0.5%
Two or more races	3,006,383	7.7%

Male vs Female population by Age groups in California in 2022

Age Group	Male Population	Female Population
0-14	4,889,499	4,829,980
15-24	2,284,194	2,224,252
25-34	2,204,387	2,162,251
35-44	2,225,190	2,213,678
45-54	1,980,454	2,013,904
55-64	1,761,886	1,802,482
65 and over	3,169,061	3,270,124
Total	19,514,671	19,514,671

NOTE:

As per the latest information from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program of 2022, the statistics outlined above are subject to revision as the bureau updates its estimates.

US Census Bureau, 2022 Population Estimates Program, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2022.html

The Census Bureau's 2022 data is based on data from the 2020 Census, birth records, death records, migration data and more.

Quick Facts of California

Check out the unique features and facts about California

Most populous state in the USA with a population of more than 39 million people.

California is known for its beaches, Golden Gate, Hollywood, Disneyland and various cultural institutions.

Sacramento is the capital of California

California is the lead state in agricultural production.

It is home to more than 50 Fortune 500 companies

If it is a country, then it would have the sixth richest economy in the world

The cost of living in California is higher than the national average with an average annual income of $63,000.

The highest temperature in California is around 87 degrees and the lowest temperature is around 39 degrees.

The average commute time in California for a one-way commute is 28.8 minutes.

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. know the top-rated moving companies in California.

Top reasons to move to California

California is home to more than 39 million people and more are planning their relocation. Several reasons that encourage people to find their new home in California-

Diverse population- The state has a diverse population with people from different cultures moving here to find their homes.

Wonderful weather- The weather in California makes it a perfect place to live in. It has warm dry summers with mild wet winters.

Top-quality education- The state is home to some top universities and colleges in the world like the University of California, Berkley and Stanford University.

Booming job market- The job market in California is thriving with unlimited job opportunities and a flourishing economy. For a quality job and growth, people prefer to move here.

High-paying jobs- California is the right destination for living and working as the job market is booming.

Stunning beaches- California is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You can explore miles of coastline.

Silicon Valley- The city is a hub of tech industry and it is home to some leading tech companies.

Hollywood- California is home to the largest movie industry in the world.

Pros & Cons of Living in California

Moving to a new state is full of surprises you will find some positives and negatives about the state. Let us check out the pros and cons of moving to California

Pros of living in California	Cons of living in California
Easy access to nature as you can explore national parks and hiking trails wherever you live	Traffic is a huge trouble in California and it is a nightmare during the rush hours
You can find top Micheline dining options and budget-friendly dining of your choice	Due to high temperatures and dry weather, California is experiencing major Wildfires
Sunshine throughout the year and thus it is the ideal place to live	Smog is a major problem because of the insane number of cars on the road
Employees in California get higher wages than those other parts of the country	Finding affordable housing is difficult in Southern California because it is densely populated
The economy and job market both are at a boom in California

Best Places to Live in California

If you are moving to California, it would be better if you learn about the best places to live in. We have compiled the data for the top ten best places to live in California including their population details, home value and unemployment rate-

City	Population	Unemployment Rate	Median Home Value
Irvine	282,329	2.7%	$1,250,000
Fremont	251,736	2.6%	$1,150,000
Berkeley	124,321	3.1%	$1,100,000
San Mateo	104,759	2.8%	$1,800,000
Sunnyvale	155,010	2.4%	$1,600,000
San Jose	1,013,240	3.2%	$1,500,000
Mountain View	83,231	2.3%	$2,000,000
Santa Clara	131,890	2.9%	$1,400,000
Cupertino	61,572	2.2%	$2,500,000
Los Altos	30,287	2.1%	$3,000,000

Tip: When you've got a home to move in California, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Best Neighborhoods in the California

Marina District, San Francisco: If you are looking for a neighborhood offering stunning views, upscale restaurants, and vibrant nightlife, then this is the right place to move to.

Pacific Heights, San Francisco: This is an upscale residential neighborhood with mansions, luxury boutiques, and fine dining. Some notable landmarks of Pacific Heights are Alta Plaza Park, Lafayette Park and Billionaire’s Row.

North Beach, San Francisco: This neighborhood is also known as “Little Italy” and is recognized for Italian restaurants, cafes, and vibrant nightlife.

Mission District, San Francisco: This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Francisco with colorful murals, taquerias, etc. There are a few notable landmarks of this neighborhood like Mission Dolores, The SF Armory, Balmy Alley Murals and more.

Santa Monica, Los Angeles: Santa Monica is known for its laid-back lifestyle, sunny weather, and hospitality industry. Some notable landmarks of Santa Monica include the Santa Monica Pier.

Venice Beach, Los Angeles: This neighborhood is known for its canals, boardwalk performers, street art, and eclectic shops. Some notable landmarks include Muscle Beach Venice, Venice Beach Boardwalk and more.

Westwood, Los Angeles: This is a commercial and residential neighborhood and is home to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and other landmarks.

Old Palo Alto: The neighborhood is home to Stanford University and a variety of historic buildings and beautiful gardens.

Barron Park, Palo Alto: This family-friendly neighborhood is known for its good schools, hiking trails and parks.

Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles: This affluent neighborhood is a residential neighborhood which is known for its celebrity residents, Hollywood sign, Forest Lawn Memorial Park and stunning views of the city.

Russian Hill, San Francisco: This upscale neighborhood is known for its cable cars, luxury condos, and fine dining. Some notable landmarks include Lombard Street, The Cable Car Museum, and Washington Square.

Studio City, Los Angeles: This is a family-friendly city with good schools, restaurants, and parks. Griffith observatory and Hollywood Bowl are common landmarks of the neighborhood.

Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles: This affluent neighborhood is known for its quiet streets, good schools, and a variety of restaurants and shops. The neighborhood is home to Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Sign View Point.

Cole Valley, San Francisco: This charming neighborhood is known for its independent boutiques, cafes, and family-friendly atmosphere. In this neighborhood, you will find well-maintained Victorian Homes.

These are some of the best neighborhoods in California. You can explore these neighborhoods as per your requirements and preferences.

Cost of living in California

The cost of living in California is 1.34 times higher than the national average in the USA. The cost of living is a significant factor to be considered while planning to move to someplace new. Learn all about the cost of living in California in the coming section -

Cost of Living by Categories in California vs USA 2022

Category	California	USA
Groceries	113.2	100
Housing	234.3	100
Utilities	110.6	100
Transportation	112.5	100
Healthcare	120.5	100
Other expenses	109.3	100

Median House Price in California vs USA 2022

Location	Median House Price
California	$882,200
USA	$428,700

Median Rent Price in California vs USA 2022

Location	Median House Price
California	$2,098
USA	$1,765

Note: The source of the above data is Numbeo, Cost of Living Index 2023. Also, the data provided is based on the estimated value available which can vary from region to region in California.

Housing Market in California

The housing market in California is one of the most expensive in the country. The reasons for expensive housing in California are limited housing supply, high cost of land and construction, and high demand due to high population.

Average rental cost in California

According to the latest data provided by Zillow Rental Manager, the median rent for all types of properties and all types of bedrooms is $2,895 per month. Please note that the rental cost can vary depending on various factors like the size of the property, location and quality.

If you are looking for affordable housing options then here are a few programs that you can check out- The California Public Housing Authority’s Section 8 Housing Program; The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Programs are administered by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) and more.

Median Home Value in California

The data for median sale price of all types of homes in California was provided by Redfin and it mentioned that the median sale price was $792,900 in August 2023 and there has been an increase of 4.8% from last year. It is worth noting that the median home value can vary according to the location and type of the property.

California job market

People move from state to state for their personal as well as professional growth. If you are planning to relocate to California, then it is worth knowing about the job market of the state. In this section, we have compiled various data related to the job market in California.

Number of Households by Income Level in California

Income Level	Number of Households	Percent of Total Households
Less than $25,000	1,050,000	10.5%
$25,000-$49,999	1,700,000	17%
$50,000-$74,999	2,100,000	21%
$75,000-$99,999	1,800,000	18%
$100,000-$149,999	1,600,000	16%
$150,000-$199,999	800,000	8%
$200,000 or more	1,500,000	15%
Total	10,000,000	100%

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2021-2022

Median Income in California vs USA

Location	Median Income
California	$84,097
USA	$67,521

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2021-2022

Unemployment Rate in California vs USA

Location	Unemployment Rate
California	4.0%
USA	3.8%

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2023

Major industries in California

The state has a diverse economy with various major industries. Here we have listed some major industries providing employment and contributing to the GDP.

Film and television

Agriculture

Healthcare

Technology

Manufacturing

Tourism

Education

Top Career Options in California

If you are moving to California for a better job opportunity then you will find multiple high-paying jobs. Here we have compiled details of some high-paying jobs with their average annual income-

Job title	Average salary	Entry level salary	No. of people
Software Engineer	$147,860	$100,000	1,100,000
Data Scientist	$139,620	$90,000	100,000
Product Manager	$135,830	$85,000	150,000
Registered Nurse	$116,060	$70,000	350,000
Accountant	$89,840	$60,000	200,000

Source: Burning Glass Technologies, California Labor Market Outlook, 2023

Note: The data provided in the table are estimates and the average salaries can vary depending on various factors including company, location, and more.

Biggest companies in California by city and number of employees

California is home to several tech companies including Apple, Cisco, Google, Intel, and more. These companies and other tech companies are considered as the top employers in the state. We have listed the biggest employers in California in different cities and the company size-

Company	City	Number of Employees
Cisco	San Jose	73,600
Apple	Sunnyvale	137,000
Hewlett Packard Enterprise	Cupertino	59,700
Google	Mountain View	160,000
Intel	Santa Clara	107,000
Wells Fargo	Los Angeles	268,531
Salesforce	San Francisco	75,300
Tesla	Fremont	100,000
Broadcom	Irvine	20,000
Qualcomm	San Diego	45,000
Kaiser Permanente	Oakland	216,801

Source: Fortune 500, 2023

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Best things to do in California

When to decide to move to a new state, you must also consider the options for fun and recreation over there. In California, you can find plenty of places to do something new and creative. Here we have listed the best things to do in California.

Visit Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco

Spend a day with family at Universal Studios Hollywood

Explore the history at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego

San Diego Zoo is one of the best destinations to enjoy wildlife and nature

Visit the J. Paul Getty Museum to explore arts and culture.

You can buy souvenirs, gifts and snacks at the Warf Store in San Francisco

Enjoy the beauty of nature at Golden Gate Park

Schools in California

If you are moving with kids of school or college age, then California has some best schools and universities for top-quality education. You can research about these schools, universities and colleges before moving there. Check out the list of best elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities in California

Elementary Schools in California
William Faria Elementary School, Cupertino
Cold Spring Elementary School, Santa Barbara
Elkhorn, Stockton
Leal (Frank C.) Elementary School, Cerritos
Central Elementary School, Belmont

Middle Schools in California
Oxford Academy, Cypress
Carmenita Middle School, Cerritos
Petaluma Accelerated Charter, Petaluma
Whitney High, Cerritos
Riverside STEM Academy, Riverside

High Schools in California
Oxford Academy, Cypress
Whitney High School, Cerritos
California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson
Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, Gilroy
Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, Wilmington

Colleges and Universities in California
Stanford University, Stanford
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena

These are some of the best schools, colleges and universities in California based on different rankings and parameters. The rankings can change with the variation in different considerable parameters.

Type of insurance required in California

Minimum auto insurance requirements in California

If you are moving to California and carrying your vehicle there are insurance requirements. Check out the minimum auto insurance requirements in California-

Before getting your vehicle on the road, the drivers must have some sort of auto insurance or financial responsibility.

The minimum car insurance requirement in California is 15/30/5 liability coverage, which means $15,000 for a single other driver’s injury, $30,000 for all injuries per accident, and $5,000 for property damage.

The other option is that the drivers can put $35,000 in a savings account and share the account information with the DMV.

Different types of homeowners insurance available in California

Homeowners insurance provides coverage for your home and personal property. It will help you cover the cost of repairs and replacement of home or personal belongings damaged due to fire, theft, or other covered events. There are several types of homeowners insurance policies available in California with different levels of coverage-

HO-1: This policy type is only for single-family homes and now they are rarely sold by insurance providers.

HO-2: This policy type is most common which is an upgrade of HO-1.

HO-3: Common policy type with more coverage than HO-2.

HO-4: Specifically designed for renters it also covers personal property and liability.

HO-5: This policy provides comprehensive coverage for personal property and dwelling.

HO-6: This type of policy is designed for condominium owners which covers personal property and liability.

HO-7: This policy type is for mobile homeowners.

HO-8: This policy type is designed for older homes and does not cover the current building codes.

All these policies have their limitations and coverages. You can discuss with the insurance provider in detail about the policy before purchasing it.

How can I compare renters’ insurance quotes from different companies in California?

There are two best ways to compare the renters’ insurance quotes from different companies in California-

Online through websites- You can connect with companies that offer online quotes for renters’ insurance. You can collect multiple quotes from different insurance companies and then compare them.

Over a Call- You can call the insurance companies and get renters’ insurance quotes over a call.

There are certain factors that you should keep in mind while comparing renters’ insurance quotes-

Coverage amount- You should consider the coverage that you will need for your belongings. To estimate the coverage amount, you can consider the value of electronics, furniture, and other items.

Cost of Policy- The cost of your policy is a major factor to consider as it will help you estimate the monthly or annual premiums of the plans.

Deductibles- Discuss with your insurance provider about the deductibles and copays included in the policy.

Research about the company- It is always better to get some details about the company like reading their reviews on several platforms.

Best companies for health insurance in California

If you are planning to buy health insurance in California then you can check out the following companies. All these companies provide different coverage options through a range of plans. According to NCQA, the following companies are the top health insurance providers in California-

Kaiser Permanente

Blue Shield of California

Health Net

Anthem Blue Cross

Molina Healthcare

Minimum requirements for rental property insurance in California

For rentals, there is no law in California which states that rentals need to carry insurance. However, landlords need to get renters insurance as a part of their rental agreement.

It is not necessary but recommended to take rental insurance to cover any potential losses or damages that may occur to the property. The policy usually covers the cost of interior damage, loss or damage to personal belongings, exterior damage and more.

Each rental insurance policy has its limitations, so read the policy document before purchasing the policy.

Taxes in California

In California, taxes are relatively high as compared to the other states in the USA. California has a progressive income tax system where the rates range between 1.00% to 13.30%. Sales tax in the state is 7.25% which can be increased to a maximum value of 10.75% by local taxes.

We have listed the breakdown of different types of taxes in California

Income tax- The state income tax ranges from 1.00% to 13.30%.

Sales tax- It is 7.25% which can be increased by local taxes and can reach a maximum of 10.75%.

Property tax- It is set by local government and typically ranges between 0.7% to 1.2%.

Vehicle registration fees- It is based on the type of vehicle and value of your vehicle.

Other taxes- Several types of taxes in California are excise taxes, estate taxes, and gift taxes.

The residents and businesses of California can take advantage of all available tax credits and deductions.

How to save on taxes in California?

If you want to save on taxes in California, keep the following tips in mind-

Take advantage of available tax credits and deductions

Itemize your deductions

Hire a tax professional

Contribute to a retirement account

Source-

California Franchise Tax Board (FTB): https://www.ftb.ca.gov/

California Department of Finance: https://dof.ca.gov/

Tax Foundation: https://www.taxfoundation.org/

Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: https://itep.org/

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: https://www.cbpp.org/

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FAQs

1. How much does it cost to move to California?

Ans: This is the breakdown of the cost of moving to California For standard moves within California, the cost generally falls between $1,000 and $3,000.

Long-Distance and Heavy Loads: Costs can escalate if you are moving from out of state or have many large, heavy items.
2. Is moving to California expensive?

Ans: Moving to California comes with various financial challenges, and that can indeed make it quite costly. Here's what you need to know:

Cost of Living: The cost of living is notoriously high compared to many other states. Things like housing, utilities, and everyday expenses vary significantly based on which part of the state you choose to live in.

Housing Costs: Renting or buying a home can be your biggest expense. Prices in urban centers and coastal areas are much higher than the national average.

Groceries: Beyond housing, the costs for necessities such as groceries, utilities, and transportation are also above average here. To manage such expenses, it is better to set a budget for your move and post-move.
3. How much money will I need to move to California?

Ans: Planning a move to California involves several costs that you'll need to budget for to ensure a smooth transition.

The estimated cost of moving to California is about $2,000 to $3,000 for these combined expenses. The costs included expenses like packing supplies, storage services, transportation costs, and fuel expenses.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. It is recommended to conduct thorough research and consult relevant experts before making any decisions related to relocation.

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