Visalia among top 20 best places to live in California. Find out why.

Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta
·3 min read

Lots of sunshine, nearby national parks and lower living costs set Visalia apart from many place in California.

What does that mean?

Visalia is one of the top 20 best places to live in California, according to a U.S. News report.

The organization ranked the the Visalia-Porterville metro area at No. 12, citing an array of amenities as reasons to make the Central Valley home. U.S. News & World Report Best Places rankings are based on public data and user opinions. To top the list, a place must earn high scores in criteria such as desirability and quality of life, according to the organization.

"Both (Visalia and Porterville) are a melting pot of ethnicities and offer many family-friendly amenities," U.S. News stated in a press release. "The development of housing, which is growing, draws in families and young professionals seeking a place to settle down."

Here are a few reasons Visalia made the list in 2023-2024.

Midterm election results continue to roll in, including College of the Sequoias’ Measure C. Wednesday night’s post-election results show 55.41% of voters support Measure C, while 44.59% do not. In order to pass, the bond needs at least 55% voter support.
Midterm election results continue to roll in, including College of the Sequoias’ Measure C. Wednesday night’s post-election results show 55.41% of voters support Measure C, while 44.59% do not. In order to pass, the bond needs at least 55% voter support.

Education

There are 51 public elementary, middle and high schools in Visalia, with an additional 12 private school. Twenty Visalia high schools are recognized on U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools rankings.

After high school, students can pick from two Tulare County junior colleges: College of the Sequoias and Porterville City College.

The city has a new four-year university, Catalyst Bible College.

Catalyst boosts “unmatched” tuition of $34,000 for four years and a goal to graduate all students as “debt free as possible,” college administration stated. The college is located on Visalia First church campus and offers a number of bachelor's degree programs.

California State University Fresno and Bakersfield are also four-year colleges not far from Visalia.

Nordstrom Rack opened its Visalia doors Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in a limited event that drew more than 1,000 people to the new store on Mooney Boulevard. The store opens to the public at 9a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.
Nordstrom Rack opened its Visalia doors Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in a limited event that drew more than 1,000 people to the new store on Mooney Boulevard. The store opens to the public at 9a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.

Shopping

There are plenty of shopping destinations to choose from including downtown Visalia, Visalia Mall and Tulare Outlets.

Over the last year, extensive renovations have been made at the Sequoia Mall in Visalia. The mall is located on the busiest street in the city, but over time the decline of brick-and-mortar retail left the mall nearly vacant.

The additions of Nordstrom Rack, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Barnes and Noble are expected to boost foot traffic at the shopping mall. The retailers are all new to Tulare County. More tenants are expected to be announced in the coming months.

If locals want to take a day trip, they can head to Fresno's Riverpark shopping center or Tejon Outlets, just outside of Bakersfield. The shopping destinations are less than a two-hour drive from Visalia.

Cost of living

The average sale price for a single-family home in the Porterville and Visalia area is lower than the Californian average.

However, due to more people working from home during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Valley housing market is quickly rising in cost.

In 2022, the national average housing cost was $383,883. In the same year, Visalia's housing cost was $375,910. Homeowners in the area pay county property taxes.

National Parks

Visalia is a short drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

Sequoia National Park is America’s second-oldest national park, while neighboring Kings Canyon National Park is home to the General Grant tree and Cedar Grove. Redwood Canyon, the largest sequoia grove in the world, is also located inside the parks.

Visitor services are located in five different areas: Grant Grove, Giant Forest, and Foothills areas and stay open all year. Cedar Grove and Mineral King open from late spring to early fall. Campgrounds are open in all areas spring through fall; some stay open in winter.

More than 1.2 million people visited the parks in 2020, according to the National Park Service.

Kevin Bartl and his son, Jack, set up a telescope for the viewing party held in the parking lot at Wuksachi Lodge during the 10th annual Dark Sky Festival in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2023. The festival celebrates the beauty of the night sky while raising awareness about preserving the dark skies like those in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. The parks are renowned for some of the darkest skies in the United States and are among the few places left in Calif. to experience natural darkness.

U.S. News report card

  • Rank: 12

  • Overall Score: 5.2/10

  • Quality Of Life: 6/10

  • Value: 5.6/10

Quick Visalia statistics

  • Population: 470,999

  • Median home price: $375,910

  • Median monthly rent: $1,037

  • Median age: 31.3 years old

  • Average annual salary: $50,100

  • Unemployment rate: 13.1%

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Visalia among top 20 best places to live in California.