Guest Columnist
Ashley Starmer
11 CA Cities Recognized as Having Most 'Envied Lifestyles' in America
There are places in America that seem to have it all - where locals don’t just live, they thrive. Maybe it’s the easy pace of a beach town where mornings start with surfing and end with sunset tacos. Or a mountain enclave where work breaks mean trail runs and the farmer’s market feels like a weekly reunion. These aren’t just postcard settings - they’re real communities with lifestyles that spark envy far beyond their zip codes.What makes them so desirable isn’t just the scenery (though that helps). It’s the balance: work that doesn’t consume, nature on the doorstep, a sense of belonging. In an age of burnout and hustle, these places offer something rarer - room to breathe.
New Jersey Real Estate Network, a home‑listing platform, carried out a survey of 3,012 respondents asking one simple question:
Which lifestyle do you envy the most?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the top 10 were dominated by Hawaii, California, and Florida locations:
#1. Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is more than a zip code - it’s a status symbol. Synonymous with luxury, the neighborhood offers palm-lined streets, gated mansions, and boutiques where price tags are optional. Celebrities stroll past Rodeo Drive, and even the dry cleaners feel five-star. It’s not just the wealth - it’s the polish, the privacy, and the fantasy of effortless glamor. For many, Beverly Hills isn’t just a place to live - it’s a lifestyle to aspire to.#2. East Honolulu, Hawaii
East Honolulu quietly nails the art of living well. It’s not showy - just drop-dead gorgeous. Locals wake up to sweeping ocean views, paddle out before work, and grab poke on the way home. The pace is calm, the homes are elegant, and nature never feels far. There’s a sense of ease here, like life is unfolding exactly as it should. No wonder so many people dream of trading chaos for this kind of quiet luxury.#3. Kahala, Hawaii
Kahala feels like the private wing of Honolulu - discreet, refined, and breathtaking. It's where low-key mansions hide behind hedges, and morning jogs trace the coastline in silence. There’s no rush here, just salty air, slow weekends, and the soft clink of champagne glasses at sunset. It’s not trying to impress — it just does. For those in the know, Kahala isn’t a destination. It’s a retreat from the world, with the ocean as your backyard.#4. Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach is where coastal cool meets serious money. Think yachts bobbing in the harbor, beachfront homes with glass walls, and brunches that casually cost three figures. It’s stylish but never tries too hard - locals wear linen like a uniform and spend more time on the water than in traffic. There’s an effortless confidence to the whole place. People don’t just envy Newport for the views - they envy the way it makes everything look easy.#5. Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is where upscale meets easygoing. Picture palm-lined boulevards, manicured golf courses, and a dress code that somehow makes resort wear look chic. There’s a sense of polish to everything - from the architecture to the attitudes. Retirees love it, yes, but so do remote-working execs who want sun without the scene. It’s enviable not just for its luxury, but for how gracefully it pulls off the good life.#6. Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach is the kind of place where salt air and generational wealth mingle quietly. It doesn’t shout; it glides. Tucked between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, this coastal enclave boasts top-rated golf, private beach access, and homes designed for sipping rather than showing off. There’s an old-money vibe here - tasteful, timeless, and deeply Floridian. It’s not about flash; it’s about living beautifully and letting the Atlantic do the talking.#7. Upper East Side (in Manhattan), New York
The Upper East Side is unapologetically old money - all prewar apartments, doormen, and art auction talk. It’s where Fifth Avenue glitters with understated glamor, and Central Park is quite literally your backyard. There's a rhythm here: gallery openings, club dinners, and mornings that start with Pilates and The Times. It’s not trendy - it's timeless. For those on the outside, the Upper East Side represents a curated, cushioned world that still defines New York elegance.#8. Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs may not make headlines, but that’s what locals love about it. It’s the kind of place where everything just works - proximity to multiple schools, tidy parks, a true community vibe. There’s affluence here, but it’s wrapped in normalcy: soccer practice, farmers markets, and backyard barbecues. Families love the wholesome environment; young professionals love the balance. It’s not trying to be Miami - it’s proud to be Coral Springs. And honestly, that quiet confidence is enviable.#9. Calabasas, California
Calabasas is where Hollywood money goes to exhale. Beyond the gates and rolling hills, it’s all luxury SUVs, designer athleisure, and dogs with better skincare than most humans. Yes, it’s known for celebrity residents, but there’s a laid-back vibe under all the glam. The city manages to feel exclusive without being exhausting. Add canyon views, and just enough distance from L.A. chaos, and you’ve got a lifestyle many would trade up for in a heartbeat.#10. Palo Alto, California
In Palo Alto, ambition is practically baked into the air. This Silicon Valley hub is where tech dreams go to scale - or at least get funded. But it’s not all startups and strategy. The tree-lined streets and historic homes give it a deeply livable feel. Residents enjoy access to innovation, intellect, and immense wealth, all within a bike ride of a green juice bar. For many, Palo Alto isn’t just a place - it’s a passport to influence.Seven more California lifestyles were recognized among the most coveted in the country:
#13. La Jolla
La Jolla feels like a Mediterranean postcard - cliffs, coves, and kayakers paddling past seals. But this San Diego enclave is more than just scenery. It's home to art galleries, UC San Diego’s brainpower, and real estate prices that induce quiet awe. Life here is sun-kissed and cultured, with a side of seaside elegance. Whether you’re sipping espresso or surfing at sunrise, La Jolla makes the everyday feel cinematic. It’s a lifestyle many admire - and few can quite replicate.#14. Hillsborough
Hillsborough is the kind of place that doesn’t need a downtown - the estates are the destination. Tucked in the hills between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, it’s home to generational wealth, sprawling mansions, and towering hedges that say “privacy, please.” There’s no sidewalk café scene here - just tennis courts, manicured lawns, and the kind of old-school luxury that doesn’t advertise itself. In a region full of innovation, Hillsborough keeps things quietly classic - and enviably exclusive.#17. Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills is where tech titans go to disappear. Set high above the valley, it offers sprawling estates, winding roads, and silence so thick it feels curated. Zoning rules keep commercial sprawl out and views in, making it one of the most exclusive - and elusive - places in Silicon Valley. You won’t find cafés or corner shops, but you will find hawks gliding over vineyards. It’s not just luxurious - it’s the kind of isolation people dream of.#23. Saratoga
Saratoga sits quietly on the edge of Silicon Valley, offering a slower, more refined way to enjoy the tech boom. Think wineries, art galleries, and historic estates hidden beneath redwoods. It’s wealthy - very - but without the rush. Residents prefer evenings at the symphony to startup pitch decks, and the local cafés serve more matcha than hustle culture. In a region that’s always moving fast, Saratoga stands still - and that’s exactly why people crave it.#27. Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes is the kind of place where coastal cliffs meet calm wealth. Overlooking the Pacific, this bluff-top city feels like a private corner of L.A. few ever reach. There’s no rush, no billboards - just nature, serenity, and homes with million-dollar views in every direction. Trails weave through wild terrain, and the soundtrack is wind and waves, not sirens. It’s not trendy, and that’s the point. RPV isn’t just pretty - it’s peaceful, and people envy that deeply.#29. Rancho Santa Fe
Rancho Santa Fe is as exclusive as it sounds - a leafy, sun-soaked enclave where estate gates stretch for acres and privacy is practically religion. Just inland from San Diego, it offers rolling hills, equestrian trails, and homes that feel more like private resorts. There’s no commercial clutter, just manicured landscapes and quiet elegance. Residents aren’t looking for buzz - they’re living a curated version of Southern California few ever get to see, and everyone quietly envies.#40. Atherton
Atherton is where tech tycoons go when they’re done sharing office space. Just a few minutes from Menlo Park, it’s one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in America - and it shows. Think sprawling estates, gated drives, and the kind of privacy that even billionaires envy. There’s no commercial downtown, no need for flash - just immaculate homes under towering redwoods. Atherton isn’t about buzz - it’s about insulation. It’s not just exclusive. It’s practically its own planet.