Madonna Mountain is in the center of the City of San Luis Obispo.

Courtesy of the the City of San Luis Obispo

Home > 2016 Top 100 Best Places to Live > San Luis Obispo, CA

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
620
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 58
Demographics 31
Economy 46
Education 81
Health 81
Housing 73
Infrastructure 60

#29. San Luis Obispo, CA

Many residents of San Luis Obispo claim they’ve found the “happiest place to live.” Geographically speaking, they’ve struck a gold mine. San Luis Obispo is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Ridge, smack dab in the middle of Central Coast Wine Country. California Polytechnic State University and Cuesta College give the city a youthful vibe, while a network of trails, parks and recreational facilities help keep residents healthy. See where San Luis Obispo ranked on the 2014 Top 100 Best Places to Live. 

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