Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Fallbrook, California
Nestled in Rolling Hills and Orchards in Southern California, Sleepy Fallbrook is Known as the "Avocado Capital of the World"
Sleepy Fallbrook is nestled in rolling hills and orchards roughly 55 miles north of San Diego and directly east of the Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton. Bucolic and peppered with tall oaks, it is an agricultural community known in particular for its avocados. In fact, Fallbrook is called the "Avocado Capital of the World."
Other agricultural products grown here include macadamia nuts, kiwi, persimmons, pomegranates, oranges, wine grapes and more. Flower fields, greenhouses, nurseries and an old fashioned, three block downtown with an art deco movie theater, boutiques, galleries and ice cream shops evoke a simpler time. Residents enjoy a Friday farmers' market, a wonderful botanic garden, two museums and the annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival in April, which brings in avocado and guacamole fans from around the region. Four golf courses have a Fallbrook address, and gardening is a popular pastime.
The Fallbrook School of the Arts attracts artists and offers classes in ceramics, sculpture, painting and more. A senior softball league, a newcomers' club and a strong sense of civic pride are also here. Housing ranges from condominiums to custom homes with acreage and views of the surrounding hills.
Population: 34,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 38%
Cost of Living: 75% above the national average
Median Home Price: $840,000
Climate: Fallbrook has a Mediterranean climate with summer temperatures in the 70s and low-80s. Winter temperatures are in the 40s, 50s and 60s. On average, the area receives 10 inches of rain each year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? Yes
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? Yes
Public Transit: Yes, but it is limited. Generally, a car is necessary.
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Ecucated: 38%
Is California Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? No
Cons: The threat of wildfires is real. In 2007, fires caused widespread evacuations and destroyed 200 homes on the east side of the city. A fire in 2018 blackened surrounding hills. A small brush fire in 2019 burned about five acres outside of town. The earthquake risk is 670% higher than the national average.
Notes: Tourists come in the summer, and some residents complain about noise from Camp Pendleton. The city has maintained its population during the last decade, and home prices have increased 16% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
California:
Thanks to the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, the Golden State became a U.S. territory in 1847. Soon after, gold was found at Sutter's Mill. The land crowded with fortune seekers, and, shortly thereafter, California entered the Union as its 31st state in 1850.
California has 900 miles of coastline and claims the highest and lowest point in the continental U.S. Its terrain varies dramatically - from sandy beaches to rugged mountains, deserts to fertile farmland. Landmarks like Hollywood, Disneyland, and the Golden Gate Bridge play a large part in the nation's history and imagination.
Although Texas and New York have tried to close the gap, California's economy continues to be nation's largest. Agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, and tourism are some of its leading industries.
Cities of the Golden State have put some odd laws on the books. It's illegal to molest a monarch in Pacific Grove. Want to throw a frisbee on an L.A. County beach? Better ask a lifeguard first. What about bowling on the sidewalks of Chico? Strictly forbidden!
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