Fresno, California, was founded in 1872 as a railway station of the Central Pacific Railroad. Today, its combination of grid and curvilinear streets cover 116 square miles. Residents are just 60 miles south of Yosemite National Park, making it popular with nature lovers. Its median age is 31.4 (2022), and agriculture forms the backbone of its economy.

Sacramento, California, has such an abundant urban forest it’s known as the “City of Trees.” John A. Sutter, Jr. founded what is now a 99.7 square-mile city in 1848, when Sacramento was an outgrowth of Sutter’s Fort. Today, it’s California’s capital, with a median age of 34.9 (2022). Most residents work in government, education, healthcare, agriculture, real estate, and clean technology.

With a beachside location, beautiful weather, and a laid-back vibe, it’s no wonder San Diego, California, has been dubbed “America’s Finest City.” Spanning 372.4 square miles, its history goes back to 1769, with the establishment of a fort and mission. Today, canyons and hills separate mesas, creating a hilly terrain and pockets of natural, open space. Its median age is 35.2 (2022), with tourism, research, manufacturing, international trade, and military and defense-related activities driving its economy.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love San Jose, California. It’s a base for exploring the Diablo Range and Santa Cruz Mountains, and isn’t too far away from the Pacific Ocean. Founded in 1777, the city now covers 181.4 square miles. Its median age is 37.1 (2022), and its proximity to other tech companies' headquarters in Silicon Valley, including Google in Mountain View and Apple in Cupertino, cements San Jose’s position in the tech hub.

Literally meaning “the angels” in Spanish, world-famous Los Angeles was founded in 1781, under Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. Now covering 501.6 square miles of hilly and flat areas with rugged terrain, it lies in a basin in Southern California, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. Mountains surround the city, where streets generally follow a grid layout. Its median age is 35.9 (2022), and main industries include entertainment, aerospace, bioscience, transportation, and fashion.

One of the most vibrant cities in California is San Francisco, famous for its Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Alcatraz prison, on an island in San Francisco Bay. Situated on the West Coast, the 46.8 square-mile city was founded in 1776. It’s a hilly place, and neighborhoods are named after the hill on which they’re situated, such as Nob Hill, Potrero Hill, and Russian Hill. Its median age is 38.3 (2022), and it’s a center for arts, high-tech, healthcare, sciences, and professional services.