There are plenty of affordable smaller cities around California. I'm not sure if any of them are attracting younger people. I haven't spent much time in Bakersf

There are plenty of affordable smaller cities around California. I'm not sure if any of them are attracting younger people. I haven't spent much time in Bakersfield but it wasn't that bad, and the mountains are close. Palmdale/Lancaster might be good, some tech/aerospace out there, you have to like the desert though. Vacaville seems to have industry, mostly manufacturing. There are also plenty of smaller communities in the north state, not sure about jobs, probably none.