‘American Riviera’ is ranked best place to live in the US for ‘near-perfect’ weather… but there are deadly risks

Celebrity hotspot Santa Barbara has been ranked the best place to live in the US due to ‘nearly perfect’ weather.

Often called the ‘American Riviera’, the coastal city in California is known for its climate, American news reported.

Average temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees and a whopping 329 rain-free days per year make it an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts.

However, experts warn that the idyllic environment is becoming increasingly vulnerable to threats linked to climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, landslides, changing rainfall patterns and forest fires.

ClimateCheck, which maps the threat, estimates that about 85 percent of buildings in Santa Barbara are at very high risk of wildfire.

Despite these challenges, the city’s Mediterranean climate continues to attract celebrities and affluent residents with its breathtaking landscapes and grand houses.

As a result, the average real estate price in the area is an eye-watering $1,789,765.

Nicknamed ‘The American Riviera’, the city is plagued by rising sea levels, coastal erosion, landslides, changing rainfall patterns and forest fires

In second place, behind Santa Barbara, is Los Angeles, with California dominating the list overall, occupying seven of the top ten spots. Vallejo was third, San Francisco fourth, San Diego fifth, San Jose sixth and Salinas seventh.

These findings come just months after California was hit by a catastrophic storm.

In February, the state was hit by Six months of rain that left a trail of destruction.

At least nine lives were lost and entire neighborhoods were wiped out.

Heartbreaking photos showed homes dangling precariously over a cliff in Santa Barbara County after massive erosion displaced 45 people.

The region was also hit by hundreds of landslides, especially in southern areas, which suffered the wettest storm on record, dumping more than a foot of rain in some locations, including the Hollywood Hills.

Outside of California, Charleston, South Carolina came in eighth; Mobile, Alabama ninth; and New Orleans, Louisiana, tenth, are on the list.

At the other end of the scale is Seattle, Washington, which averages 156 rainy days per year.

Despite the exceptional weather, Santa Barbara only ranked 71st on the list of best places to live, mainly due to its high cost of living and expensive real estate.

Pictured: A person walking through floodwaters in Santa Barbara as a powerful, long-lasting atmospheric river storm, the second in less than a week, in February 2024

Although California is often celebrated for its idyllic climate, the state surprisingly ranked lower than Utah in a recent survey by Consumer Affairs about the best places to live.

Utah, known for its beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities, claimed the top spot for its strong economy, affordable housing and high quality of life.

Residents have access to world-class national parks, including Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion.

After Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, Minnesota and Massachusetts rounded out the top five.

California, on the other hand, ranked near the bottom due to its high cost of living, traffic congestion and other challenges.