Fallbrook, California
Located between Los Angeles and San Diego, beautiful, low key Fallbrook is nestled in rolling hills and is sometimes compared to Monte Carlo. Just half an hour from the coast, with vineyards and fruit groves all around, it attracts an affluent citizenry. Its historic downtown, rich vegetation (live oaks and sycamores are everywhere), starry nighttime skies and strong sense of community are just a few reasons retirees come here. The population is 33,000, and the city is growing.
Cost of Living: 40% above the national average
Median Housing Price: $395,000
Median Household Income: Above the national average
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Percentage Age 45 or Better: 37%
Voting: Democratic
Education: 15% with college degree
Fallbook Hospital is small, with just 45 beds, but it is accredited by the Joint Commission and meets national averages in nearly all areas.
The city sits in a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures in the 50s 60s and 70s. It rains about 10 or 12 inches per year. It is rarely too hot or too cold, and on the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Fallbrook comes in above the national average. The sun shines roughly 250 days of the year.
Recreation in this area is quite good, with the shore just half an hour away and all the amenities of two large cities within a few hours’ drive time. Bicycling and hiking are favorite pastimes, and the annual avacado festival celebrates one of the area’s top produce items and includes a 20 mile bike ride. Plenty of artists call the town home, thanks to its scenic setting and leisurely lifestyle.
Fallbrook has a lot going for it, from an appealing rural ambiance to a low crime rate and a great climate. It is definitely worth checking out at retirement time.