Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad is located along the southern California coast, between Los Angeles and San Diego, and is an affluent community with pretty beaches, a Mediterranean character and a bounty of flowers that create a carpet of color. Throw in lots of sunshine, sand and surf and you have the classic, balmy California dreamscape village. The cost of living is nearly 75% above the national average, and the median household income is also well above the national average. The crime rate meets the national average, and of the population, 42% is age 45 or better.
Carlsbad got its start in the late 1800s when a gentleman named John Fraizer dug a well and began selling water at the train stop. The water seemed to have the same qualities as some of the world’s most famous waters, located in various spots around the globe, and soon people were coming Carlsbad for the restorative wet stuff. Soon crops, including olives and oranges, were growing in the fertile California soil, and a growth spurt began.
The city is made up of several quadrants, each with a distinct personality, and the median home price is nearly $625,000. Housing is eclectic, with a variety of condominiums, townhomes and single family homes. Many are in historic neighborhoods. Carlsbad is also the site of a renowned named Aviara.
The amazing climate is what brings many retirees Carlsbad. The city sits in a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures in the50s 60s and 70s. As they say, it never rains in Southern California, except it does, about 10 inches a year in Carlsbad. It is rarely too hot or too cold, and on the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Carlsbad comes in above the national average. The sun shines roughly 250 days of the year.
As might be expected, local politics leans to the left, with about 55% of residents calling themselves Democrats. Citizens are educated, with 95% having at least a high school diploma, and 34% having a college degree.
When it comes to medical care, Carlsbad does not have its own hospital, but to hospitals are within 10 miles of the city. One is Tri-City Medical Center, and the other is Scripps Memorial Hospital. Between the two, the area has nearly 500 beds. Both facilities are accredited by the Joint Commission, and Scripps is award-winning.
Carlsbad has a reputation as a quiet, friendly community, and with its breezy California lifestyle, it is indeed a great place to retire.