Good places in California to live?

My boyfriend and I are moving to California within the next year or so and we are trying to get an idea of good places to live. We need an area with affordable smaller apartments, that is decently safe and has an okay employment rate. We are going to try to live in California for a year before going to college to get settled in and to get residency so that we can save some money on tuition. My boyfriend is going to be a police officer so he is interested in a place where he would still be able to make a good amount of money, so I'm honestly not interested in any place with too low of a crime rate or a community with a lot or older people living in the area. Also, a minor detail is that I am into roller derby and would like to find a team near the area. Thank you so much.