The Golden State, explained
Plain answers for life in California
Clear answers for Californians: the best of the Golden State, and the money and legal rules that come with living here.
- Sources cited on every page
- Updated October 27, 2026
- No paid rankings
California by the numbers
Figures checked October 25, 2026 against state sources. Tap one for the full guide and citations.
Latest guides
Written for people who live here, with the law and the numbers cited.
California Eviction Process: Notices, the 10-Day Response, and the Sheriff's Lockout
How an eviction works in California, step by step: 3-, 30-, 60- and 90-day notices, the unlawful detainer case, the 10-court-day response deadline, trial, and the sheriff's 5-day Notice to Vacate.
MoneyCalifornia Minimum Wage 2026: $16.90 Statewide, Higher in Many Cities
California's 2026 minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, rising to $17.40 on Jan. 1, 2027. City and county rates that are higher, plus the $20 fast food rate and the health care worker rates.
MoneyCalifornia Property Tax: Prop 13, the $7,000 Exemption, and the 2026-27 Due Dates
How California property tax works under Prop 13: the 1% base rate, the 2% yearly cap, the homeowners' exemption, supplemental bills after you buy, and the Dec. 10 and April 10 deadlines.
Best of California
Coming soon. We publish only after we've checked it ourselves.
Money
How we work
Every number on BestCalifornia links to the law, the agency or the official report it came from. Best-of lists come from our own visits, and no business can pay to be on one.
- Checked sources. Statutes, state agencies and court rules, linked on the page.
- Dated. Each guide shows when we last checked it, and we update it when the law or the numbers change.
- Upfront about money. If a page mentions a company we work with, it says so. See how we make money.