SANTA MONICA, Calif. – A neighborhood in Southern California has made a dramatic leap in a national ranking of the best places to live. According to Niche’s 2025 report, City Center in Santa Monica skyrocketed from 404th place in 2024 to No. 5 this year, making it the highest-ranked neighborhood in California.
Niche, a research platform that evaluates over 12,000 communities, based its rankings on data from the Census Bureau, FBI, and other sources. City Center earned an A+ rating, praised for its vibrant urban atmosphere, abundant restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and strong rental market.
Meanwhile, Colonial Village in Arlington, Virginia, retained the top spot for the second year. Other high-ranking areas included Atlantic Station in Atlanta and Harbour Island in Tampa.…