Business
From switchboard operators to Zoom: The evolution of workplace communications
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed how people communicate at work: Nearly half of people videoconference more, 43% email more, 42% call more, and 41% text more than before the pandemic, according to a data analysis from Grammarly.
To track the evolution of business communications from switchboards and fax machines to email and VoIP systems, Top10.com compiled a list of nine milestones that transformed how we collaborate in the workplace, using research from technology publications, newspaper archives, the International Association for Computer Information Systems, and other sources.
Workplaces have often set industry standards in adopting new or more efficient technology to improve day-to-day business. Before we had our own telephone at our desks—and well before we had them in our pockets—switchboard operators made it possible for a client or coworker to reach you directly to talk business in real time.
When it came to sending files, documents, and forms, businesses ditched hand couriers and the post office in favor of the fax machine, which became an office staple in the ’80s. It wasn’t long after that when email, though initially used for personal communication, became a large part of office life and has led to an “always-on” email culture. Videoconferencing, first presented in 1968 as a commercial solution, has undergone many iterations and remains a steady presence in workplaces to this day, allowing for remote work.
Read on to learn how cellphones, instant messaging, Zoom, and other tech have influenced workplace communication.
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Switchboard operators
The telephone transformed communications in the office, allowing white-collar offices to separate from warehouses and factories. This ultimately, and perhaps ironically, made American offices more centralized.
In the early days of the telephone, switchboard operators were essential intermediaries who relayed calls manually through a central switchboard connected to subscriber wires.
George W. Coy, who had experience in the telegraph business, came up with the idea for switchboards after attending a lecture by telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell: Together, they started the first American telephone exchange. This technology, which began as one exchange with 21 clients, revolutionized the telephone and made it available to the masses.
Women dominated the switchboard operator field in the early 20th century, growing from 88,000 in the U.S. in 1910 to 235,500 by 1930. Soon telephone users could call each other directly, leading to widespread job cuts. By the ’40s, there were fewer than 200,000 switchboard operators.
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Pagers
The pager was invented in 1949 by Al Gross, a man whose attempts to interest hospitals and telephone companies in his newfound technology were mostly unsuccessful—except for New York’s Jewish Hospital, which implemented pager use in 1950.
Pagers peaked in the ’90s after Gross’ patents had expired, with pagers worldwide reaching 61 million in 1994.
Pagers were and still are most frequently used in hospitals, where the devices were praised for improving and accelerating urgent communications. They’re still useful today, with signals that can penetrate buildings, making them more reliable than cell phones.
As of 2017, nearly 80% of U.S. hospitals still rely on pagers for their communications, according to a study in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. Other companies still using pagers as of 2017 include infrastructure companies like EDF Energy in the U.K., lifeboat crews using pagers with GPS trackers, and emergency responders or medics.
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Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing technology was first introduced at the World’s Fair in New York as “the Picturephone,” a commercial solution with which users could communicate over video in 10-minute intervals. The initial adoption was slow because it was a clunky, expensive device that required a challenging setup.
Videoconferencing didn’t become popular until the ’80s when the price for such a system dropped from at least $250,000 to $80,000. The computer revolution in the same decade led to the combination of computers being used in the workplace and the use of an integrated services digital network and broadband services, which helped videoconferencing become more viable.
These early efforts were still expensive and complex, discouraging many companies from using this technology.
Tech advancements in the ’90s including major Internet Protocol technology, video compression, and internet advancements helped nudge the price down for IBM’s videoconferencing systems to $20,000. In the same decade, webcams allowed videoconferencing technology to reach consumers. However, as in the ’80s, videoconference solutions did not always offer the best user experience because there was a tradeoff between motion-handling capacity and picture resolution.
By the early aughts, Skype provided a software technology solution for video transmission that significantly improved that technology; by the mid-’00s, the webcam became a standard desktop and laptop component. At that point, companies also started seeing the financial rewards that came with videoconferencing: increased employee productivity, reduced travel expenses, and savings on real estate and other office-related costs companies still get to this day. And, of course, there are the significant changes videoconferencing technologies brought to workplace communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing people working from home to attend Zoom meetings.
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Fax machines
Fax machines send graphic or text messages through a phone line from a scanner to a printer, which prints the message on paper. Because phone lines can only pick up audio, the original message is converted into frequencies and tones that the machine interprets as either white or black, which results in the printed page’s overall composition.
This first version of the fax machine was invented by Xerox in 1964, though the technology itself—the electric printing telegraph—was created in 1843 by Alexander Baine. In the late ’70s, mostly Fortune 500 companies used them to get and send urgent documents. The devices were widespread by the ’80s and used across government, medical, legal, and small-business offices. Ubiquitous use drove prices down: Fax machines cost $18,000 in their heydey, dropping to as low as $500 by 1991.
Fax machine technology was the fastest-growing business communication and office automation area at the time, as fax machines could transmit documents between rooms in the same building or over thousands of miles. Until cellphones started replacing landlines late in the ’90s, fax machines facilitated all kinds of office communications.
As home landlines became less common, the number of consumers using fax machines declined. However, some industries—such as tech, finance, insurance, and health care—still use fax machines to send secure communications that follow strict privacy policies, such as the federal law restricting the release of medical information.
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Ray Tomlinson created the first electronic mail, or email, system in 1971—though it wasn’t until the World Wide Web’s inception that email became popular. By the ’90s, email was an essential communication tool worldwide. 1993 brought a new milestone: Users could attach files to emails.
While many people used email personally in the ’90s, sending speedy replies wasn’t the norm, and people even considered faxes to be still more effective. Email became all-pervasive in the office in the 2000s, and the way professionals worked quickly transformed. Suddenly, people became obsessed with checking their inboxes, spending hours sending and receiving messages, and worrying about email etiquette’s undefined rules.
Now, email culture is “always-on,” with employees receiving emails during their off-work hours, like in the evening or over the weekend.
Ron Watts // Getty Images
Cellphones
The first call made from a cellphone was by Motorola executive Martin Cooper in 1973—and the device was pretty different from the cellphones we use today, weighing around 2.4 pounds, resembling a brick, and only being able to put a call through for 30 minutes after charging for 10 hours.
It wasn’t until 1983 that the first commercial phone came out, Motorola’s DynaTAC, a heavy, bulky device that cost around $4,000. These cell phones became smaller throughout the ’80s, culminating in 1989 when the release of Motorola MicroTac, a flip phone that could fit inside a user’s shirt pocket. Around the beginning of the 21st century, many affordable cellphones came out with various features: web browsing, a function similar to today’s touchscreen feature, full physical keyboards, a camera, a color screen, and fashion features like a variety of colors and sleek design.
In addition, there was the car phone, invented in 1920. The device—only available in luxury cars and to the rich and famous—was considered an eccentric invention until the ’40s and ’50s when cellphone towers were erected in the U.S. In the ’70s, car phones finally reached the masses, but they soon fell out of fashion when cellphones became popularized in the ’80s and ’90s.
In 1990, a Canadian program called Venture interviewed car phone users—an owner of a small business, a professional in the travel industry, a sales agent, and a building contractor—and they all cited business as the main reason for using a car phone. One user reported that it was never possible to “get away” and that they could be reached “all the time,” though others used the tech for personal calls.
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Instant messaging
Instant messaging dates back to 1961, when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Compatible Time-Sharing System allowed 30 people to log in and send each other messages.
The rise of the internet in the ’90s caused instant messaging to take off, and major IM platforms, including Yahoo, MSN, AIM, and ICQ, began competing in the market. IMs flourished in the ’00s as playing games, making video calls, and sharing photos became common IM features of new IM platforms like Apple’s iChat, Skype, Google Talk, MySpaceIM, WhatsApp, and Facebook Chat (now Messenger).
Another major transformation occurred in the 2010s when such apps as WhatsApp, WeChat, Snapchat, Discord, and Slack offered many new features, including making payments, shopping, sending pictures that disappeared after a specific time, and facilitating workplace communication and collaboration.
When the pandemic required many workers to start working remotely, IM communication platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams helped workers collaborate with their colleagues and continue working efficiently. Slack co-founder Cal Henderson said in an August 2020 Wired UK interview that many major companies would embrace remote working permanently, mainly because of its tools.
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Smartphones
The first smartphone, the Simon Personal Communicator, was unveiled by IBM in 1992; two years later, it was available on the market for $1,100. While it wasn’t sleek or compact, it had many features that persist in smartphones today, such as a touchscreen, standard and predictive text keyboards, a native appointment scheduler, a calendar, an address book, and email. It could even send and receive faxes.
The first smartphone connected to a 3G network became available in the early 2000s, but given that it cost between $300 and $700, it was a bit pricey for most people. But when the iPhone debuted at Macworld in 2007, the public was presented with a phone that had a sleek design and internet access similar to a desktop computer. Since then, many new versions of the iPhone have been released, the Android has come out, apps have been on the rise, and the number of smartphone users worldwide has gone up significantly to 83.3% of the global population as of October 2022.
Smartphone use has impacted work-life balance, with employees dealing with personal affairs at work while completing work tasks during their free time. These devices have facilitated faster information flow; face-to-face meetings through messages, email, or video conferences; flexibility in work location; and higher employee satisfaction. On the other hand, they have led to declining productivity, ongoing stress, and the loss of privacy.
Smartphones also centralize many tasks, enabling people at work to look at their invoices, talk to coworkers, and send emails in one place without going to the office. This meant many of the tasks covered on this list could now be done on a smartphone.
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Zoom
Eric Yuan founded Saasbee Inc. in 2011, renamed it Zoom the following year, and unveiled Zoom 1.0 worldwide in 2013. But the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic seven years later is what truly put Zoom on the map.
After COVID-19 reached the U.S. early in 2020, schools throughout the country closed, provided their students with tablets and laptops, and quickly had educators pivot to teaching via apps such as Zoom. People used Zoom to socialize online when restrictions were in place: celebrating birthdays, hosting trivia nights, and even attending virtual happy hours. And, of course, businesses used Zoom as lockdowns worldwide led to closed offices, making working from home obligatory for many.
While there are other players in the enterprise videoconferencing space—BlueJeans, GoToMeeting, Skype, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams—it was Zoom, eventually, that would become the most popular. Zoom became so popular that its brand was turned into a verb, as in, “Sure, let’s just Zoom next Monday and talk about it then.”
With Zoom, businesses could communicate in various ways using the videoconferencing solution. They can host one-on-one meetings or town halls with a maximum of 100 participants and multiple communications through the platform, such as group chats, cloud phone calls, webinars, and video meetings. Additionally, the app can be accessed through mobile devices, conference rooms, browsers, and desktop clients, making it accessible to everyone on the team. It’s important to note issues such as “Zoom fatigue” and how the app is not a complete replacement for in-person communication.
More than 7 in 10 executives said hybrid/remote work hasn’t hurt building connections with their employees; they were considering a remote-flexible working model after the success of remote collaboration during the pandemic, according to a July 2022 Morning Consult survey for Zoom. This report also found that videoconferencing technology was one of the most significant factors that contributed to a positive view of remote working. Given the success of remote work during the pandemic, the trend will likely become commonplace in the world of office work.
This story originally appeared on Top10.com and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Fluctuating gas prices have many feeling pain at the pump—but owners of gas-guzzling cars feel it more acutely.
Stacker used data from the Department of Energy’s fuel economy database to rank the 23 most gas-guzzling cars of 2023. Duplicate models of the same car line were excluded from this analysis: For example, the data includes information on the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Ghost Black Badge, and Ghost Extended, but this analysis only includes information for the base model, Ghost. Only 2023 model cars were considered, and those included here were released between May 2022 and February 2023.
Gas prices rise due to higher demand and higher costs for crude oil and they typically vary by season. In June 2022, the average price for a gallon of gas was over $5 in many states but fell as demand and crude oil prices sank.
New fuel efficiency standards may help your wallet when gas prices rise. In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new standards that require manufacturers to have a fuel efficiency rating of 49 miles per gallon averaged across all of their models by 2026 and for every model by 2029.
Owning a gas guzzler won’t just cost you more at the pump—cars that get less than 22.5 miles per gallon also incur a “gas-guzzler tax,” which starts at $1,000 but climbs to $7,700 for cars that get less than 12.5 mpg. The tax is usually paid by the manufacturer or importer but is no doubt passed on to the customer in the purchase price.
Read on to see which new cars are the least fuel-efficient for 2023.
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Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd V12 Vantage
– Combined fuel economy: 16 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 22 mpg
– City fuel economy: 14 mpg
– Manufacturer: Aston Martin
– Engine size: 5.2 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automatic (A8)
Sjoerd van der Wal // Getty Images
Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 63 4MATIC+
– Combined fuel economy: 16 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 22 mpg
– City fuel economy: 14 mpg
– Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz
– Engine size: 4 liters
– Cylinders: 8
– Transmission: Automatic (A9)
Martyn Lucy // Getty Images
Audi R8 Coupe quattro
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 18 mpg
– City fuel economy: 13 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 5.2 liters
– Cylinders: 10
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S7)
Sue Thatcher // Shutterstock
Audi R8 Spyder quattro
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 18 mpg
– City fuel economy: 13 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 5.2 liters
– Cylinders: 10
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S7)
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Lamborghini Huracan Coupe
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 18 mpg
– City fuel economy: 13 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 5.2 liters
– Cylinders: 10
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S7)
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Lamborghini Huracan Spyder
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 18 mpg
– City fuel economy: 13 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 5.2 liters
– Cylinders: 10
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S7)
GabrielPreda.ro // Shutterstock
Bentley Flying Spur
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 19 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 6 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S8)
FABRICE COFFRINI // Getty Images
Bentley Continental GT Speed
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 20 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 6 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S8)
Shang Saal // Shutterstock
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 21 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: General Motors
– Engine size: 5.5 liters
– Cylinders: 8
– Transmission: Semi-Automatic (S8)
Raymond Boyd // Getty Images
Dodge Charger SRT Widebody
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 21 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: FCA US LLC (Chrysler)
– Engine size: 6.2 liters
– Cylinders: 8
– Transmission: Automatic (A8)
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Cadillac CT5 V
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 21 mpg
– City fuel economy: 13 mpg
– Manufacturer: General Motors
– Engine size: 6.2 liters
– Cylinders: 8
– Transmission: Manual (M6)
JDzacovsky // Shutterstock
Dodge Challenger SRT Widebody
– Combined fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 21 mpg
– City fuel economy: 13 mpg
– Manufacturer: FCA US LLC (Chrysler)
– Engine size: 6.2 liters
– Cylinders: 8
– Transmission: Automatic (A8)
Martyn Lucy // Getty Images
Ferrari North America Inc. 812 Competizione
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 16 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Ferrari
– Engine size: 6.5 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual (AM7)
Raymond Boyd // Getty Images
Bentley Continental GT Convertible Speed
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 18 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 6 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S8)
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited Phantom
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 18 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce
– Engine size: 6.7 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Semi-Automatic (S8)
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Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Aero
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 19 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: General Motors
– Engine size: 5.5 liters
– Cylinders: 8
– Transmission: Semi-Automatic (S8)
Tricky_Shark // Shutterstock
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited Ghost
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 19 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce
– Engine size: 6.7 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Semi-Automatic (S8)
Camerasandcoffee // Shutterstock
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited Cullinan
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 19 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce
– Engine size: 6.7 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Semi-Automatic (S8)
Sjoerd van der Wal // Getty Images
Mercedes-Benz Maybach S 680 4Matic
– Combined fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 20 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz
– Engine size: 6 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automatic (A9)
Mau47 // Shutterstock
Ferrari North America Inc. 812 GTS
– Combined fuel economy: 13 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 15 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Ferrari
– Engine size: 6.5 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual (AM7)
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Ferrari North America Inc. Ferrari Monza SP1
– Combined fuel economy: 13 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 15 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Ferrari
– Engine size: 6.5 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual (AM7)
Martyn Lucy // Getty Images
Ferrari North America Inc. Ferrari Daytona SP3
– Combined fuel economy: 13 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 16 mpg
– City fuel economy: 12 mpg
– Manufacturer: Ferrari
– Engine size: 6.5 liters
– Cylinders: 12
– Transmission: Automated Manual (AM7)
Grzegorz Czapski // Shutterstock
Bugatti Chiron
– Combined fuel economy: 11 miles per gallon
– Highway fuel economy: 14 mpg
– City fuel economy: 9 mpg
– Manufacturer: Volkswagen
– Engine size: 8 liters
– Cylinders: 16
– Transmission: Automated Manual – Selectable (e.g., Automated Manual with paddles) (AM-S7)
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The American dream of buying a home in a quaint small town is still alive and well. A growing number of people consider rural living ideal: In 2021, small towns and rural areas gained population, while cities lost people, according to a New York Times analysis of Census Bureau data.
A Pew survey in October 2021 found that about 1 in 5 Americans (19%) would most like to live in a city, but 35% wanted to live in rural areas, and 46% preferred suburbs. Inflation may mean some of those people can’t afford to leave cities or must go back, but their preferences remain.
Of course, a small town in a great location will always be more popular than one that’s truly remote. That’s where this list of the best small towns on the West Coast comes in handy. Stacker referenced Niche’s 2022 Best Places to Live and filtered the results to the West Coast and then narrowed them further to places under 5,000 residents. Niche calculated the best places to live based on cost, safety, weather quality, access to healthy living, and other factors.
Whether you’re considering a move or just want a peek into what small-town life could be like, this list will certainly inspire some home searches.
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#25. East Richmond Heights, California
– Population: 3,355
One Oakland Tribune advertisement from 1913 called East Richmond Heights “the garden of the gods.” Though that slogan might have been exaggerated to sell tracts of land, this quiet, small town still ranks highly for its diversity and family-friendly lifestyle.
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#24. Mirrormont, Washington
– Population: 4,196
Mirrormont, just west of Tiger Mountain State Forest in the southeastern suburbs of Seattle, was founded in 1962, with large lots featuring plenty of trees—and signature A-frame style homes. With great schools and outdoor activities nearby—including golf, tennis, and swimming at the local country club—it’s known for its privacy and strict rules to protect the neighborhood’s rustic character.
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#23. Durham, Oregon
– Population: 2,073
Southwest of Portland, this small community’s area is about one-fifth of parks and open space. It’s named for a man who ran mills on the creek that runs through town. He was followed by a family who ran a tree and shrub nursery and planted trees in the area, many surviving. In 1966, residents formed a city to stave off development. Local laws fiercely guard the trees, which can only be removed with a permit.
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#22. Cambrian Park, California
– Population: 3,674
Although Cambrian Park sits inside the San Jose city limits, it is technically an unincorporated census-designated place—a confusing designation that stems from shifting school district boundaries, press coverage, and ZIP codes in the 1950s. Easy access to city and county parks, good schools, and shopping malls make Cambrian Park a desirable place to live.
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#21. Stafford, Oregon
– Population: 1,999
This self-described “hamlet” was created in 2006 on previously unorganized territory in Clackamas County, southeast of Portland. Its residents have set aside areas that will never be developed and set guiding principles and specific rules for any subdivisions or developments that may be proposed in the community.
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#20. Ladera, California
– Population: 1,449
First founded as a housing cooperative in 1946, Ladera has a colorful history. The Peninsula Housing Association—the group of 262 members behind the purchase and development of the land—ran out of money before it could build its dream community. Then, the four non-white families were forced to withdraw from the investment. Only white people were allowed to buy homes in the resulting development—a requirement that remained in the housing rules until 2021.
David Papazian // Shutterstock
#19. Portola Valley, California
– Population: 4,458
Though Portola Valley sits on top of the San Andreas Fault, the potential for seismic activity has not hampered the town. What is now known as Portola Valley began as a logging town community called Searsville. Once all the redwoods had been cleared, the logging companies deserted Searsville, and a collection of small farmers and a few wealthy estate owners moved in.
David Papazian // Shutterstock
#18. Mount Hermon, California
– Population: 1,254
This small town in Santa Cruz County was originally known as Tuxedo Junction, a stop on the South Pacific Coast Railroad with a well-known resort. Today, in addition to residential homes, Mount Hermon hosts a Christian youth camp of the same name.
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#17. Rancho Santa Fe, California
– Population: 2,914
Rancho Santa Fe’s history dates back to a time before California’s statehood, when Mexico’s Gov. Pio Pico awarded the area in a land grant to San Diego’s first mayor Juan Osuna in 1840. In the early 1900s, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway company bought the land and planted eucalyptus trees for later use as railroad ties. After that experiment failed, the company decided to turn the land into a residential development, and Rancho Santa Fe, as we know it, was born.
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#16. Mission Canyon, California
– Population: 2,353
This suburb of Santa Barbara is named for nearby Old Mission Santa Barbara, founded by Spanish Franciscan friars in 1786, and the dramatic canyon landscape. Visitors flock to this neighborhood for the lush Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and several popular hiking trails.
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#15. Hidden Hills, California
– Population: 2,182
Known for celebrity residents like Kardashian family members, music stars, and actors, Hidden Hills offers a rarefied version of a small-town lifestyle. This gated residential community developed in the mid-1950s boasts an extensive network of equestrian trails—some residents even pick up their kids on horseback. With so many A-list celebrities in the community, Hidden Hills also takes privacy extremely seriously. The community has even banned Google’s photography vehicles from recording the area for Google Street View.
David Papazian // Shutterstock
#14. Sleepy Hollow, California
– Population: 2,511
With just 750 homes, Sleepy Hollow is a quiet, peaceful Bay Area town beloved by equestrians and hikers alike for its proximity to two nature preserves. During World War II, the Army used a Sleepy Hollow golf course for the secret storage of munitions.
Artazum // Shutterstock
#13. Medina, Washington
– Population: 2,928
Halfway between the Seattle suburbs of Bellevue and Kirkland, this community on the shore of Lake Washington is an attractive choice for families—as well as a few well-known wealthy residents like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. It’s also an expensive place to buy a home: According to Zillow, the median home price in Medina is more than $4 million. It’s no surprise that Medina was ranked the eighth-richest ZIP code by Bloomberg.
Nadia Yong // Shutterstock
#12. Woodway, Washington
– Population: 1,119
Half an hour north of Seattle, you’ll find Woodway: a self-described “quiet place” where residents love to walk and bike around the evergreen-lined lanes and local parks. The town’s history dates back to 1912 when David Whitcomb Sr. developed 400 acres into modest, country-style homes.
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#11. Del Monte Forest, California
– Population: 3,604
This unincorporated community in Monterey County is known for its picturesque views. Visitors might want to spend a leisurely afternoon checking out all the sights on 17-Mile Drive, including the Lone Cypress—a rugged, salt air-pruned tree clinging to a craggy rock in the bay—and the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links course. Though Pebble Beach is technically a separate community, it sits within Del Monte Forest.
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#10. Belvedere, California
– Population: 2,309
In 1896, 33 residents voted to incorporate Belvedere as a city. The San Francisco Bay borders the town on three sides: It’s technically composed of two islands and a lagoon, giving the homes here unbeatable views.
Marben // Shutterstock
#9. Ross, California
– Population: 2,405
First incorporated in 1908, this quaint town in Marin County is run by a five-person town council and a town manager. Ross has a real small-town feel, with just two churches, three schools, and a few cultural institutions like the Marin Art and Garden Center as well as a library run by the historical society.
Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
#8. Loyola, California
– Population: 3,564
Like the neighboring towns of Mountain View and Los Altos, Loyola is an affluent community. In December 2022, the median price buyers paid for Loyola homes was $3.8 million. Top-rated schools, luxury amenities like a country club, and its proximity to the Bay Area make Loyola an appealing—if pricey—place to live.
David Papazian // Shutterstock
#7. Monte Sereno, California
– Population: 3,502
When a community began forming in what is now Monte Sereno in the early 1900s, the area was rural and agricultural. Today, you won’t find any orchards, farms, or livestock, just a peaceful residential community that has been home to author John Steinbeck, painter Thomas Kinkade, and Beat poet Neal Cassady over the years.
Diego Grandi // Shutterstock
#6. West Menlo Park, California
– Population: 3,492
This small community sits just west of Stanford University, with most of its bars, restaurants, and local businesses lining Alameda de las Pulgas. Excellent school districts make this area particularly sought after by Bay Area families.
David A Litman // Shutterstock
#5. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
– Population: 3,296
A popular tourist destination in its own right, Carmel-by-the-Sea is renowned for its charming downtown, historic mission, top-notch restaurants, and stunning Carmel Beach. Some of the town’s first residents were artists such as author Jack London and poet Robinson Jeffers, giving the city an intellectual bent and creative spirit.
MILA Zed // Shutterstock
#4. Rolling Hills, California
– Population: 1,436
This gated residential community on the Palos Verdes Peninsula covers just three square miles, but each of the 700 properties has at least one acre and is zoned for keeping horses. Nearby attractions include the Palos Verdes Art Center, the hiking and equestrian trails in the Portuguese Bend Reserve, and the architecturally significant Wayfarers Chapel designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
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#3. Yarrow Point, Washington
– Population: 1,365
Set on a peninsula in Lake Washington, Yarrow Point borders the #1 town on this list. Though the first homesteads date back to the 1880s, Yarrow Point wasn’t incorporated until 1959. Nearly one-fourth of the homes here have waterfront views—but even residents who aren’t so lucky can enjoy public parks like the Wetherill Nature Preserve and Road End Beach.
LuvAlisa // Shutterstock
#2. Del Mar, California
– Population: 4,008
Another coastal destination, Del Mar’s gorgeous beaches, legendary horse racing, and delightful downtown village are attractive to both visitors and prospective residents. The city hosts about 2 million visitors annually.
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#1. Clyde Hill, Washington
– Population: 3,118
From some of Clyde Hill’s higher elevations, you can spy views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains, and the Cascade Mountain Range, in addition to Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline. The area was first settled in 1882 by Irish immigrant Patrick Downey, who farmed strawberries on his claim. Clyde Hill made national news in 1975 when its mayoral race ended in an even tie; the contenders flipped a coin to decide the race.
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