Carlsbad, CA, United States

With a population of 114,746, Carlsbad is a beach town that has traded its old-money conservative roots for a more progressive sensibility. Yet the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache, as evidenced by the city's contentious battles over open space preservation and school construction. And while the Mediterranean climate delivers 263 sunny days per year, the periodic high temperatures from Santa Ana winds are an unwelcome reality. Still, Carlsbad's thriving tech and golf industries, along with its proximity to San Diego, make it an attractive option for those seeking a laidback California lifestyle.