Each place received an overall letter grade ranging from A+ to D-.
San Luis Obispo earned the No. 1 spot on the list of 23 places to live in SLO County, according to Niche.
Pismo Beach was the second-best place to live, Niche said, while Avila Beach came in third.
An aerial view of San Luis Obispo. Joe Johnston jjohnston@thetribunenews.com
Why is SLO the best place to live in the county?
San Luis Obispo, the largest city in San Luis Obispo County, received an overall A grade from the ranking and review site.
The city has a population of 47,529 and gives residents “a dense suburban feel” with several bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks to choose from, Niche said.
“This town is full of life!” one Niche reviewer wrote. “The surrounding hikes and beaches offer endless fun and the downtown scene is great for going out with friends.”
Other reviewers called SLO “a smaller town with an amazing quality of life” and a place where the “weather is amazing.”
SLO’s public schools are highly rated, receiving an A+ grade from the site.
An aerial view of San Luis Obispo in California. Joe Johnston jjohnston@thetribunenews.com
The city’s mild weather garnered an A+ grade from Niche.
SLO also earned an A+ for nightlife and A- for being good for families.
Crime and job availability received C+ marks in San Luis Obispo.
The city received its lowest grades in the categories of housing and cost of living — receiving a C- and D+, respectively.
The median home value in San Luis Obispo is $841,700, compared to $281,900 nationally.
Median rent in SLO costs $1,850 a month, nearly $600 more than the national average of $1,268.
Businesses and homes line South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo. The Northern Chumash Tribal Council organized an aerial tour of lands bordering the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on Sept. 18, 2024. The flight was sponsored by EcoFlight, a nonprofit dedicated to appreciation of the environment. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
What other local cities and towns made the list?
Here are the top 10 best places to live in San Luis Obispo County, according to Niche:
San Luis Obispo
Pismo Beach
Avila Beach
Arroyo Grande
Los Osos
Grover Beach
Templeton
Callender
Cayucos
Atascadero
San Luis Creek winds into Avila Beach were it empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Northern Chumash Tribal Council organized an aerial tour of lands bordering the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on Sept. 18, 2024. The flight was sponsored by EcoFlight, a nonprofit dedicated to appreciation of the environment. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
How did Niche come up with the rankings?
To come up with its list of the best places to live in San Luis Obispo County, Niche looked at a variety of factors, including:
Cost of living
Higher education rate
Housing
Public schools
Diversity
Crime and safety
Jobs
Niche also explored quality of life in each town and city, considering factors such as outdoor activities, walkability, commutes, weather and health and fitness.
After assigning weighted grades for each category, Niche calculated an overall score for each place, created a numerical ranking and assigned grades.
The website primarily used data from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau.
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 11:01 AM.
Hannah Poukish covers San Luis Obispo County as The Tribune’s government reporter. She previously reported and produced stories for The Sacramento Bee, CNN, Spectrum News and The Mercury News in San Jose. She graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in journalism.
