The Most Expensive Cities in California Might Surprise You

It’s no secret that California is home to some incredible (and expensive) real estate—especially in big cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. While it’s easy to see why people want to move into the state’s best beach houses and purchase vacation homes, achieving these goals gets harder every year as property values continue to rise. 

According to PropertyShark’s 2019 annual real estate reports, California is home to 91 of the 100 most expensive cities (by zip code) in the country, so it’s no surprise that Californians pay more for housing than the average American. So, it might be time to move to the Bay Area’s least expensive city (or even to a remote destination with more affordable housing) to purchase a starter home and begin saving for the place you really want. But for those who dare to dream, here are the most expensive zip codes in the Golden State.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in California

1. Atherton

Zip code: 94027

County: San Mateo

Median sale price: $7,050,000

2. Santa Monica

Zip code: 90402

County: Los Angeles

Median sale price: $4,154,000

3. Beverly Hills

Zip code: 90210

County: Los Angeles

Median sale price: $4,080,000

4. Palo Alto

Zip code: 94301

County: Santa Clara

Median sale price: $3,522,000

5. Los Altos (94022)

Zip code: 94022

County: Santa Clara

Median sale price: $3,450,000

6. Ross

Zip code: 94957

County: Marin

Median sale price: $3,350,000

7. Portola Valley

Zip code: 94028

County: San Mateo

Median sale price: $3,300,000

8. Los Altos (94024)

Zip code: 94024

County: Santa Clara

Median sale price: $3,150,000

9. Newport Beach (92661)

Zip code: 92661

County: Orange

Median sale price: $3,140,000

10. Newport Beach (92662)

Zip code: 92662

County: Orange

Median sale price: $2,900,000

In total, 55 Bay Area zip codes made it into the top 100, while only 21 Los Angeles County zip codes did. For an even more direct comparison, 13 zip codes in the city of San Francisco were among the most expensive places to live in California, while only 6 from the city of Los Angeles made the pricey cut. 

Are you still dreaming of buying a house in one of the most expensive cities to live in? Let us know where you’re looking to splurge in the comments below.