5 Affordable Small Cities To Live In on the West Coast

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The West Coast includes California, Oregon and Washington and is home to some well known cities, such as Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. But the Pacific Coast is also home to some of the nation’s highest housing costs, as well as the highest costs of living, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

GOBankingRates sought out some of the more affordable and smaller cities to live in that can make a West Coast dream a reality.

Aberdeen, Washington

Aberdeen is located on Grays Harbor and boasts three historic home districts.

With home values averaging $273,701 and rent at $709 per month, this charming city is not only affordable, but its population of 17,013 means a small town feel. Clam digging and crabbing, bird watching, hiking, and paddling are just a few of the activities that this area offers.  

Crescent City, California

In California, home values tend to decline the further up the coast you go. In areas in and around San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, home values are typically upwards of $1 million and higher.

That’s why Crescent City in the northern part of California is such an outlier. With home values at $357,225, they are not only below the California average but also just below the national average. Cost of living is 10% above the national average and rent averages $1,141 per month.

The city of 5,611 is located near Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and offers other attractions like hiking and biking and a variety of beaches.  

Lakeside, Oregon

This very small city of 1,904 isn’t right on the coast, but the Pacific Ocean awaits just over the sand dunes on the west side of town. The town itself is wrapped around North Tenmile Lake which provides plenty of water access.

Home values average $306,163 and rent falls around $1,779 per month. Despite housing being affordable, the cost of living is 33% higher compared to the national average, so make sure to factor that into your decision.   

North Bend, Oregon

North Bend is located close to Coos Bay and Charleston to form a larger region on Oregon’s South Coast. It’s surrounded by water on three sides which offers access to the Pacific Ocean, beaches and sand dunes. 

Rent in North Bend averages $847 per month, significantly lower than other areas of the country, and home values are just shy of the national average at $357,856. Cost of living is 4% lower than the country’s average, making it an affordable place to enjoy West Coast living.  

Eureka, California

Home values in Eureka are above the national average, but at $414,793, they are well below the average for California. But rental rates fall around $899 which is below both the California and national averages. 

Despite its small size and population of 25,734, Eureka is home to the imposing Carson Mansion, a stunning example of the Victorian architecture exemplified in many other homes in the city. Its proximity to redwood trees, beaches and water give residents plenty of variety and excitement.

Methodology: To determine these five affordable small West Coast cities, GOBankingRates narrowed the search to cities that were around 100,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau population counts as of Jul. 1, 2023. Home values in these cities were compared to the national average of $359,099 as reported by Zillow Zestimates and updated as of Oct. 31, 2024. The rental costs as per Apartments.com were compared to the national average of $1,559 per month. GOBankingRates also accounted for livability scores according to AreaVibes and Niche, as well as cost of living data sourced from the Economic Research Institute.

Editor’s note about California cities: The average home value in California is $771,057, so some of the affordable small cities included in this list have home values that are higher than the national average but fall below the state’s average. The same is true for rent, which in California averages $2,155 per month, but averages $1,559 per month nationally. 

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