California Coast Dominates Ranking Of Nation's Nicest Places To Live
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - All 10 of the nicest counties in the country are right here in the Golden State, at least if you're judging by criteria the USDA uses to determine where people might want to live.
The Washington Post mapped every county in the country to identify "the nicest places to live." The numbers actually come from USDA research on the resources available to residents of each county on the based on "mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and access to a body of water," according to the Post. As they say on the show 'House Hunters,' Northern California check a lot of those boxes.
In fact, Humboldt (2), Mendocino (4) and Del Norte (5) Counties all cracked the top five nicest places to live. Ventura in Southern California earned the top overall spot, with Santa Barbara finishing third.
San Francisco (6), Monterey (9), Santa Cruz (12), Contra Costa (13), San Mateo (17), Marin (19) and Sonoma (20) all landed in the top 20. Several counties in the Sierra foothills were also selected among the nation's finest.
Check the full map and see where your county ranks here.
Bill Disbrow is the Managing Editor for cbsSF.com - Email Bill.