California boasts some of the most exciting industries worldwide, offering a plethora of cool job opportunities. However, it can be challenging to muster the motivation to get out of bed each morning if the pay is mediocre, the job lacks excitement, or the office environment is dull.
This predicament is especially amplified in California, where many residents face a daily commute on congested eight-lane freeways, enduring the frustration of 45-plus minutes before reaching their destination.
Nevertheless, there is hope for those seeking to escape the unhappy and burned-out worker status by discovering a cool job without the burden of a grueling commute. How can this be achieved? By considering one of the following ten cities in California, which we have identified as havens for the state’s happiest employees.
10 Happiest Cities in California
10. San Mateo
- Unemployment: 8.8%
- Median Household Income: $77,820
- Early Risers: 4.9%
- Commute Time: 24.5 minutes
San Mateo, located halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, is a city with a population of approximately 100,000 people. It is known for having relatively higher rates of unemployment and longer commute times compared to other areas.
However, individuals who secure jobs in San Mateo tend to find well-paying positions that do not necessitate extremely early reporting times.
9. Lake Forest
- Unemployment: 5.4%
- Median Household Income: $82,689
- Early Risers: 6.3%
- Commute Time: 25.7 minutes
Lake Forest appears to be a town bustling with ambitious individuals. Although it boasts the longest average commuting time among the listed towns, it also enjoys the lowest unemployment rate. Fortunately, the majority of its residents do not have to rise at dawn to pursue their ambitions.
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8. Redwood City
- Unemployment: 5.6%
- Median Household Income: $76,206
- Early Risers: 6.9%
- Commute Time: 22.1 minutes
Redwood City secures the 8th spot on the list and is known for housing prominent companies like Oracle and Electronic Arts. Despite boasting a low unemployment rate compared to other areas, its ranking is slightly affected by a significant portion of residents who need to start their commute as early as 6 a.m. to reach their workplaces.
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7. Sunnyvale
- Unemployment: 8.5%
- Median Household Income: $101,611
- Early Risers: 3.9%
- Commute Time: 23.2 minutes
Lockheed, Yahoo, and Juniper Networks are major employers in Sunnyvale, which is situated in the northern part of the state between Mountain View and Santa Clara. Commute times pose a challenge in Sunnyvale, but the city compensates with its high income levels, ranking third in terms of household earnings on the list.
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6. Milpitas
- Unemployment: 9.7%
- Median Household Income: $101,644
- Early Risers: 3.1%
- Commute Time: 21.7 minutes
Milpitas ranks sixth on the list primarily due to its high household incomes, which are among the highest in the state. However, it also has the highest unemployment rate compared to other cities on the list.
Interestingly, only 3.1% of Milpitas residents are early risers, allowing them to enjoy hitting the snooze button multiple times each morning.
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5. Irvine
- Unemployment: 7.6%
- Median Household Income: $96,278
- Early Risers: 3.5%
- Commute Time: 22.3 minutes
Irvine is positioned in the middle of the list, ranking at number 5. Both Broadcom and Allergan, along with a majority of their employees, are located in this city. It is likely that these employers receive minimal complaints from their employees.
However, the high unemployment rate in Irvine makes it challenging for individuals to secure alternative job opportunities. Despite this, the city’s high household income and the lower probability of having to commute to the office at 5 a.m
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4. Newport Beach
- Unemployment: 7.5%
- Median Household Income: $112,259
- Early Risers: 4.6%
- Commute Time: 22.1 minutes
Just a short distance to the west of Irvine lies one of the most luxurious towns in California: Newport Beach. While it shares many similarities with Irvine, there is one notable difference – wealth. Newport Beach boasts the highest household income among the places mentioned in this list.
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3. Santa Clara
- Unemployment: 8%
- Median Household Income: $92,390
- Early Risers: 4.2%
- Commute Time: 21 minutes
In the northern region, within the Bay Area, lies Santa Clara. This city is home to numerous employees working at Intel and Texas Instruments, with both companies employing thousands of individuals.
Being situated close to San Jose and the rest of Silicon Valley, residents of Santa Clara can undoubtedly enjoy a wide range of job opportunities.
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2. Santa Barbara
- Unemployment: 7.8%
- Median Household Income: $64,766
- Early Risers: 2.6%
- Commute Time: 15 minutes
Santa Barbara, located two hours north of Los Angeles, is a stunning destination. Despite having the lowest pay compared to other places, it stands out for its remarkably short commutes and well-rested residents.
Santa Barbara earns high marks for work-life balance, thanks to its low number of early risers and shorter commute durations. This demonstrates that work is not solely centered around financial compensation.
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1. Mountain View
- Unemployment: 5.6%
- Median Household Income: $91,422
- Early Risers: 2.3%
- Commute Time: 20.3 minutes
Mountain View secures the top spot for having the happiest workers, thanks to excellent incomes, promising job prospects, favorable working hours, and reasonable commuting distances.
While Google, located in this region, is renowned for its culture and talented workforce, there are other significant contributors as well. Companies such as LinkedIn, Intuit, 23andMe, Mozilla, and numerous other innovators also thrive in this area.
California is an exquisite state that houses approximately one-eighth of the American population. It offers a wide array of employment opportunities, especially for those willing to embrace the innovative and relaxed office culture influenced by Silicon Valley, where ping-pong tables, pet-friendly workplaces, and unlimited vacation time are the norm. Individuals with sought-after skills often have the freedom to reside wherever they desire. While we recognize that not all locations on this list are financially accessible to everyone, it’s still enjoyable to indulge in the California dream, isn’t it?