When U.S. News & World Report ranked Folsom the #1 Best Place to Live in California in 2026, most locals weren't surprised. They already knew. What the rankings don't fully capture, though, is something that goes deeper than median incomes and commute times: Folsom is a city that genuinely takes care of its older residents — and that's intentional.

From a mayor who personally created a senior-focused volunteer program to cooling centers that activate the moment a heat advisory drops to 50 miles of paved trails where 90-year-olds play pickleball alongside 10-year-olds, Folsom has quietly built one of the most age-friendly communities in California.

Here's why.

The Numbers That Tell the Story

Folsom earned its #1 ranking in California from U.S. News & World Report by scoring high across quality of life, desirability, job-market strength, and net migration. With a median household income of $141,000, an unemployment rate well below the national average, and a population that has grown four times faster than the state average, Folsom is thriving.

But beyond the rankings, WalletHub named it the #1 best place to raise a family in California. SafeWise placed it among the top 12 safest cities in America. SmartAsset listed it among the top 15 most livable small cities nationwide.

For seniors, that triple crown of safety, livability, and community means something specific: peace of mind.

A Mayor Who Gets It — Personally

Mayor Justin Raithel didn't arrive at his passion for Folsom's senior community through a policy brief. He built a program for them.
"When we started Community Service Day, we eventually had more volunteers than we had projects," Raithel explained. "So I said, why can't we use this donated money on some private property projects? And that's how Neighbors Helping Seniors was born."

The program sends volunteer crews to seniors' homes each September — right before winter — to handle outdoor projects, yard prep, and small repairs. There's no income qualification. No paperwork. If a senior reaches out and says they have a need, that's enough. "We want to make sure that your community is showing up to show you some love," Raithel said. "A lot of these seniors may not have family in the area. Our hope is that the connection between that senior and that volunteer stays for the other 364 days of the year.”

It's a telling detail about the man and the city. Raithel, a licensed professional engineer, small business owner, and founding member of Community Service Day, was named Folsom's 2020 Volunteer of the Year. He also created the "Neighbors Helping Seniors" program before he ever held elected office. Now, as mayor, that ethos shapes city priorities.

The Senior Center: A True Community Hub

Located at 48 Natoma Street — right between City Hall and the Police Department — the Folsom Senior Center is one of the most active in the Sacramento region. Open Monday through Friday for adults 55 and older, it offers:

• Free drop-in activities including bingo, cards, trivia, and games
• Exercise and fitness classes
• Educational workshops
• Enrichment and art programs, including rotating gallery exhibits
• Senior van day trips
• A hot lunch program, Monday through Friday, through Senior Nutrition
• Community resource services for seniors and caregivers

And it's more than a list of programs. The center has a choir, a ukulele ensemble, pottery, and watercolor — a breadth of offerings intentionally designed to reach people with different interests.

"The idea is we want to find you something that is of interest to you," Raithel said. "We make that connection, and we bring you back for that. I'd encourage anyone, even with a bit of social anxiety, to walk in once. I think it is a very welcoming space."

Town Square Folsom provides specialized adult day care focused on memory care, using reminiscence therapy to support seniors with dementia in a warm, community-oriented setting.

For seniors who are homebound, Meals on Wheels of Sacramento County delivers nutritious meals and provides friendly wellness check-ins for Folsom residents 60 and older.

Healthcare You Can Count On

Few cities of Folsom's size can claim what's happening along the Highway 50 and East Bidwell corridor right now: three major health systems simultaneously building or just opening world-class facilities — all within minutes of each other. For seniors who depend on consistent, accessible medical care, this is a transformation that's hard to overstate.
Mercy Hospital of Folsom, operated by Dignity Health, has anchored the community's healthcare for over 35 years. It offers advanced neurological care through the Dignity Health Neurological Institute of Northern California, orthopedic treatment, cardiac care, and much more. And it's expanding: Dignity Health recently broke ground on a new Advanced Ambulatory Care Center at Folsom Ranch — a multi-specialty complex offering outpatient surgery, telehealth, and home monitoring technology, designed as the first phase of what could grow into a full regional medical campus.

Just across Highway 50, UC Davis Health opened its brand-new Folsom Medical Care Clinic in September 2025 — a three-story, 114,000-square-foot facility at Innovation Drive near East Bidwell that serves as the flagship of the new Folsom Center for Health campus. This isn't a satellite office. It's a comprehensive one-stop medical destination offering primary care (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics), an impressive roster of specialties including cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, oncology, ophthalmology, and rheumatology, plus in-house radiology (MRI, CT, PET, bone density scans), a cancer infusion center, and lab services — all under one roof. UC Davis Health purchased a full 34-acre parcel at this site, with future phases planned to include a micro-hospital, an ambulatory surgery center, and additional facilities as the community grows.

Under active construction right now, directly across East Bidwell Street from the Palladio shopping center, is the Sutter Health Folsom Care Complex — a $145 million, three-story, 106,500-square-foot facility expected to open in 2026. It will bring to Folsom a full-service Sutter Cancer Center with infusion and radiation therapy, an outpatient surgery center for same-day procedures, an expanded urgent care with in-house imaging and lab, and specialist offices covering cardiology, neurology, OB-GYN, orthopedics, ENT, and more. Its location directly off Highway 50 is intentional — making it accessible not just to Folsom residents but also to seniors across El Dorado County, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, and the surrounding foothills communities.

Kaiser Permanente members also have access to Mercy Hospital of Folsom through the Kaiser network, and Kaiser has submitted plans for a new four-story medical office building on Palladio Parkway next to its existing surgical center.

The result is something city leaders are now openly calling a healthcare hub — a concentration of top-tier medical systems that would be remarkable for a city ten times Folsom's size. For a retiree weighing where to put down roots, the message is clear: you won't have to drive far for excellent care, and that will only get more true with every passing year.

Shopping, Errands, and Everything In Between

Convenience matters, especially as mobility changes with age. Folsom delivers.

The Palladio is Folsom's premier open-air shopping center, with over 84 stores, restaurants, and services, including Whole Foods, Nordstrom Rack, optometry offices, and a 16-screen cinema. Its flat, walkable layout, accessible parking, and pet-friendly grounds make it genuinely easy to navigate at any age. Summer outdoor music events turn the Palladio into a community gathering space.

Historic Sutter Street offers a quieter, more intimate experience — boutique shops, wine bars, art galleries, and restaurants in a charming Gold Rush-era setting. Raithel describes it as "the gem of Folsom," and it's the kind of place where you run into people you know.

Costco, Target, specialty grocers, pharmacies, and medical offices are all within a short drive, and the city's trail network means that, in many neighborhoods, a cup of coffee or a glass of wine is reachable on foot.

50 Miles of Trails and a Pickleball Community That Welcomes Everyone

Ask Mayor Raithel what a typical retirement day looks like in Folsom, and he answers without hesitation:

"I'd start at Lindy Park with pickleball. We have 16 courts. People come from across the region because the community is so nice — they want beginners, they want higher-level players, they want everybody. I've seen people from 10 years old to 90 years old out there, all mixing together and encouraging each other." Beyond pickleball, Folsom's trail system is extraordinary. With nearly 50 miles of paved paths winding through the city, past Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma, alongside Humbug-Willow Creek, and even connecting to the California International Marathon route into downtown Sacramento, there's always somewhere new to explore.

These aren't just recreation trails. They're the connective tissue of the community. On any given morning, you'll find retired teachers, former engineers, and longtime Folsom residents out on foot, simply enjoying nature. It's one of the city's mottoes for a reason: Distinctive by Nature.

The Folsom Aquatic Center's AquaSize program is another standout. Popular well beyond city limits, it draws seniors from neighboring communities for low-impact water exercise at a reasonable cost.

Marquee Events That Bring Everyone Together

Folsom's calendar is packed with community events that span generations — and are perfect for seniors who want to stay engaged in the city's life.

Folsom Pro Rodeo (July 4th weekend) — A 65-year tradition at the Dan Russell Rodeo Arena, with PRCA-sanctioned bull riding, barrel racing, nightly fireworks, and a patriotic atmosphere that fills the community. It's a multi-generational event in the truest sense.

California Jazz Competition — The state's best young musicians compete in Folsom's Historic District, making for a wonderful afternoon of live music in a beautiful setting.

SUP Folsom Paddleboard Festival — Stand-up paddleboard races and demos on Lake Natoma, with something for spectators and participants alike.

Live Music on Sutter Street — Jazz on Sundays and a thriving live music scene throughout the year mean the Historic District is regularly alive with entertainment.

In 2025, Folsom also celebrated its 80th birthday — a citywide milestone that brought together residents of every generation.

Staying Safe When the Heat Turns Up

Sacramento Valley summers are hot, and Folsom takes that seriously.

When temperatures climb into triple digits, the 48 Natoma Senior & Arts Center transforms into an official city cooling center, managed by the Folsom Fire Department and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteers. It's open extended hours — noon to 7 p.m. — and provides a safe, air-conditioned space for residents who need it most.
The Folsom Public Library — the busiest in the Sacramento County network — also serves as a cooling space, with the added benefit of computers, programming, and a genuinely welcoming environment.

Looking ahead, Mayor Raithel has plans for additional cooling infrastructure. "We have plans for a municipal services center down in Folsom Ranch," he noted. "As it gets built out, and there's more need for services, the intention is to have a library space there, which I'm guessing will also serve as a cooling center."
Residents can also dial 2-1-1 at any time to find real-time locations of cooling centers across Sacramento County.

A City Built for Aging in Place

What sets Folsom apart isn't any single program or amenity — it's the intentionality behind how the city is growing.

Mayor Raithel has made "missing middle" housing a priority for his tenure: townhomes, small-lot single-family homes, and ownership options that make sense for seniors who want to downsize without moving into a high-density apartment. Fixed mortgage payments and locked-in property taxes matter enormously for people on fixed incomes. Accessibility improvements are also in the pipeline. A pedestrian overcrossing on East Bidwell is planned, connecting the Palladio shopping area with the developing Sutter Health campus on the east side — creating a walkable link across one of the city's busiest corridors.

Trail expansions continue as well. The White Rock Road Trail connecting Folsom Ranch to El Dorado Hills is expected to open in fall 2026.
And through it all, the city keeps reaching out to seniors directly — not just digitally, but with a printed newsletter mailed to every Folsom household.
"Not everyone is going to hop on social media," Raithel noted with a smile. "My mom rarely checks her email. But she does check her mailbox."

The Bottom Line

Folsom, California, isn't just California's #1 city. It's a community where seniors are seen, included, and celebrated — where the mayor built a volunteer program in their honor before he held any office, where the senior center draws people in with ukulele ensembles and rotating art exhibits, where 90-year-olds play pickleball with 10-year-olds on any given morning.

It's a place where growing older doesn't mean slowing down. It means having the trails, the community, the healthcare, and the neighbors to live exactly as fully as you choose.

Purple Door Finders helps families find the right senior living community across California. To explore senior living options in Folsom and beyond, visit us at https://www.purpledoorfinders.com/