El Dorado Hills, CA 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

El Dorado Hills is a Census-Designated Place (CDP) in Northern California near the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It has an active and bustling down, giving residents a strong sense of community, as well as plenty of outdoor recreation between Folsom Lake and El Dorado National Forest. Its year round warmth, local amenities, and proximity to Sacramento make El Dorado Hills a popular destination for retirees.

Climate & Geography 

El Dorado Hills experiences a hot Mediterranean climate similar to Sacramento. Summers are hot and dry with abundant sunshine, while winters are cool, damp, and affected by heavy ground fog. Rainfall is just under the national average, and there is no snow. Residents can expect about 250 days of sunshine each year.

The CDP lies in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with Folsom Lake along its northern border. The El Dorado National Forest is nearly 55 miles east, while Sacramento is 30 miles west.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

El Dorado Hills is a smaller, suburban, residential area with a tight-knit community. Residents can enjoy an active downtown area at the El Dorado Hills Town Center, with plenty of local boutiques, brand-name shops, and restaurants. It also hosts seasonal festivals and events in addition to a Sunday Farmers Market. Fans of craft drinks can explore the offerings at popular local breweries and distilleries in the nearby area. Nearby Sacramento has even more high-end shopping and a vibrant restaurant scene.

Folsom Lake has plenty of outdoor recreation, including boating and fishing, swimming, and hiking and biking trails. Active adults can golf at the Serrano Country Club in the CDP, or head to nearby Empire Ranch Golf Club in Folsom, Cold Spring Golf and Country Club in Placerville, and many more. The El Dorado National Forest to the east offers hiking and skiing with mountain views.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

The overall cost of living in El Dorado Hills is above average mainly because the cost of housing is over three times the national average. Transportation is also above, while groceries and utilities are close to average. Health care is far below.

California does not tax Social Security, but it does fully tax all other forms of retirement income. Property taxes in the state are fairly low, but El Dorado Hills’ sales tax of 7.25 percent is high. Many types of groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax.

Health Care

The Sacramento metro area generally scores well on Gallup’s Well-Being Index, ranking in the top 55 communities across the country. California as a whole also ranks in the top 14 states.

Although there are no hospitals in El Dorado Hills, Mercy Hospital in Folsom is rated as high performing by U.S. News. Other high performing nearby hospitals include Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Roseville and Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael. The closest nationally ranked hospital is UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, which is also No. 6 hospital in California.