698 High St

California, Pennsylvania earned its name during the 1849 Gold Rush, when founders hoped to capture some of the West's explosive energy -- but it was coal seams and a college campus that shaped what this small Monongahela River borough became. Today it runs on the steady rhythm of a college town, anchored by Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest California), with walkable streets along Third and Wood, riverfront green space, and a pub-and-dining scene with real local energy. Popular pockets include the downtown core near Wood Street and the quieter wooded residential areas climbing the ridges above town.

Traditional apartments in older commercial buildings, converted townhomes, and detached houses on tree-lined streets all factor into a housing landscape that's notably varied for a borough this size.