Best Moving Companies in California 2025

How much you pay for your move depends on whether you move yourself or hire movers, the move distance, how much you’re moving and any additional services (like packing or storage) you choose.

Local movers typically charge by the hour, with a team of two movers costing $80 to $100 per hour as of publishing. Long-distance movers typically charge a flat fee, which may range anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000. Packing and unpacking services will cost you more. Tipping movers is optional but customary (10% to 20% of the total cost).

Estimates for moving services from Los Angeles (90013)

The figures below are based on current (as of publishing) industry estimates for a three-bedroom home with no additional services.

There are ways to ease the stress of a move and simplify the process — it just takes some planning.

1. Get an idea of the scope of the move

Think about how much time, energy and money the move will require. Evaluate your time frame, the number of items you need moved and your budget. Set aside extra funds for unexpected costs.

» SMART MOVE: How to make a moving budget

2. Declutter in advance

Reduce the weight and volume of your belongings to save on moving costs. Consider donating or selling items you no longer need. Your city or town may have local or national charities that offer donation pickup, including for larger furniture items.

3. Start packing early

Begin packing items from less frequently used areas or seasonal items first. As you get closer to your move-out date, aim to pack one room per day and label boxes clearly.

» MORE: How to pack for a move

4. Make sure your essentials are easily accessible

Pack a box or bag for each person in your household containing essentials for moving day and the following day. Include a change of clothes, toiletries and any necessary medications — you don’t want to be without these during the move, especially if you’re driving a long distance.

5. Know how to contact your mover

Have a reliable contact for the moving company so you can communicate logistics, ask questions and track your move. Some companies offer tracking via an app; find out ahead of time so you can download it and be ready for moving day.

» MORE DETAILS: Moving checklist

Despite the rise of outbound migration, California remains one of the most popular places to move to in 2025. While the rising cost of living and climate risks can make finding the right city to call home a challenge, many people are still drawn to the state’s diverse landscapes, strong local economies and vibrant culture. The key is finding hidden gems — those affordable, safe cities that many would-be residents have overlooked.

To determine the best places to live in California for 2025, our research team analyzed the state's 75 largest cities based on five key factors: affordability, safety, economic strength, quality of life and climate risk. If you’re preparing to relocate to the Golden State, keep reading to discover which cities made the list and why.

The five best places to move to in California

Attracting the third-highest number of out-of-state movers in 2023 — behind only Florida and Texas — California’s diverse scenery, warm weather and strong local economies still make it a popular move-in destination. However, outbound moving remains an issue, as the state’s evident housing and climate challenges contributed to a high number of planned outbound moves in 2024.

Despite this, California is a big state and still the most populous in the U.S., meaning it’s worth looking outside big-name cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Whether you’re looking to start your new career or want to enjoy warm weather, read on to discover hidden California gems where you can embrace the West Coast lifestyle without the expected drawbacks.

1. Roseville

Roseville captures the quality of life you’d expect from a big city despite having a population of just over 150,000. This, along with decent affordability and a relatively low climate risk, helps the city appeal to families, retirees and young professionals. For instance, its community-owned utilities offer electricity rates that are 25% to 35% lower than other local providers, while water, wastewater and solid waste service rates are up to 50% lower than surrounding areas.

• Second-strongest economy: Roseville has some of the lowest poverty (6%) and unemployment (4.2%) rates in the state, along with strong job growth between 2019 and 2023 (7.3%).
• Relatively lower climate risk: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gives Roseville a climate risk score of 89.34 out of 100 — the lowest (safest) on our list. The agency categorizes this as “Relatively Moderate” risk.
• Decent affordability: The median home price in Roseville is 4.7 times the city’s median income, making it more affordable than most large California cities.

2. Visalia

Visalia — the oldest San Joaquin Valley town between Los Angeles and French Camp — ranks as the second-best California city to move to based on its affordability, strong economy and relatively low climate risk. In fact, it offers the most affordable housing on our list. Visalia is also known as a gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, making it a popular option for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy the California experience without California prices.

• Best affordability: It offers the second-lowest median home sale price ($340,632), which is only 4.3 times the city’s median income. Visalia also has the fourth-lowest median rent ($1,932) among California’s largest cities.
• Second-lowest climate risk: Visalia has the second-lowest climate risk score (95.77) on our list. Still, FEMA categorizes it as “Relatively High” risk.
• Good economy: With respectable 6.9% job growth from 2019 to 2023 and an unemployment rate (5.8%) below California’s average of 6.1%, Visalia ranks 13th in economy.

3. Clovis

From its humble beginnings as another San Joaquin Valley town, Clovis has transformed into a thriving community. The population has more than doubled since 1985, growing to over 122,000 residents in 2023. Many prospective movers are drawn to this region for its combination of affordability, economic security and relative safety. The city features a historic downtown and is within a short drive of the Sierra Nevada.

• High affordability: It offers the best affordability ratio for homeowners, with the third-lowest median home sale price ($384,335) and a median income ($100,360) that’s higher than the statewide figure.
• Strong economy: The percentage of the population below the poverty level is well below California’s average, at 7.4%, compared with 12%. This, combined with a below-average unemployment rate (5.3%), helps Clovis finish with the 12th best economy ranking.
• Relatively safe: Clovis has the 15th-best safety score in California, with the 18th- and 22nd-lowest violent and property crime rates, respectively.

4. Elk Grove

As the second-largest city in the Sacramento region, Elk Grove offers an abundance of attractions, festivals and recreation without breaking the bank. From the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to the Multicultural Festival every summer, there’s something for everyone. A combination of low crime and a strong economy are primary drivers of population growth, contributing to the impressive population increase of 133% between 2001 and 2023 (from about 76,000 to 177,000).

• Low crime: The city’s violent crime rate is eighth lowest in California (1.89 crimes per 1,000 people) and the property crime rate is the ninth lowest (14.21 crimes per 1,000 people), contributing to a sixth-place finish in overall safety.
• Strong economy: A lower-than-average percentage of the population below the poverty level (7.4%) and an unemployment rate (5.6%) slightly less than the state average gives Elk Grove the ninth-best economy ranking.
• Relatively lower climate risk: Elk Grove has the fifth-lowest climate risk score (97.65) on our list. However, the risk is “Relatively High,” according to FEMA.

5. Murrieta

If you’re looking for an affordable move-in destination less than two hours from Los Angeles, Murrieta stands out for having low crime and the best economy in California. From the meager 2,200 residents who were estimated to have lived in the area in 1980 to the booming 2023 population of nearly 112,000, Murrieta has grown into one of the state’s most popular places to move to.

• The best economy: Having the second-highest job growth from 2019 to 2023 (8.5%) and the third-lowest share of residents living below the poverty line (5.9%) allowed Murrieta to achieve the best economy ranking.
• Fifth-safest city: As the safest city on our top five list, the city has the fourth-lowest violent crime rate (1.72 crimes per 1,000 people) and the fifth-lowest property crime rate (12.59 crimes per 1,000 people).
• Decent affordability: Murrieta has the seventh-best affordability ratio — its median home sale price ($556,334) is just over five times the city’s median income of $109,780.

See how the rest of California compares

The table below ranks the 75 largest cities in California across five key categories: affordability, safety economy, quality of life and climate risk. No matter what you prioritize, these cities offer diverse benefits for a variety of interests. Check out our chart below to discover which city best suits your needs.

Methodology: Best cities to move to in California

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team evaluated the 75 most populous cities in the state across five weighted categories to identify the best cities to move to in California. In each category, the city that performed the best was given the highest possible score, with others getting relative scores. We added the category scores together to get an overall score, which is out of 100 points.

• Affordability (30 points): This category includes each city’s median rent for February 2025 (15 points) and an affordability ratio of median home sale price to median income in each metro area (15). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau (2023) and Zillow (2024).
• Safety (30 points): This score is based on rates of violent crime (15 points) and property crime (15) per 1,000 residents. Data is from NeighborhoodScout (2023).
• Economy (20 points): The economy score considers job growth from 2019 to 2023 in each county (10 points), the city’s percentage of residents below the poverty level (7) and the unemployment rate (3). Data is from the California Employment Development Department (2019 to 2023) and the U.S. Census Bureau (2023).
• Quality of life (10 points): The quality of life score considers walkability (5 points), the percentage of the population living within a 10-minute walk of a green space (3) and the number of restaurants per 10,000 people in the metro area (2). Data is from NYU Langone Health (2023 and 2024) and the U.S. Census Bureau (2022).
• Climate risk (10 points): This category reflects each county's Risk Index score as measured by FEMA, which is calculated based on susceptibility to hazards such as drought, earthquakes, heat waves, wildfires and more. Data is from FEMA.

For questions about the data or if you'd like to set up an interview, please contact acurls@consumeraffairs.com.

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