North County city among 'kindest places in America': survey

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Have you ever traveled to a city and been taken aback by how welcoming the locals are? If so, you're probably not the only one.

LuvLink, a company that sells friendship lamps to help people stay connected, recently surveyed 3,000 travelers to narrow down the 150 kindest places in the U.S. Specifically, the survey was used to find cities across America with the "warmest, most kind-hearted and helpful locals."

As it turns out, residents in 18 California cities were considered among the kindest, with one being located in San Diego County. Here's a list of each Golden State spot, along with the city's ranking out of 150:

-- No. 132: Modesto

-- No. 123: Riverside

-- No. 122: Rancho Cucamonga

-- No. 111: Vallejo

-- No. 105: Garden Grove 

-- No. 97: Torrance

-- No. 95: Ontario 

-- No. 88: Santa Rosa

-- No. 77: Thousand Oaks

-- No. 76: Orange 

-- No. 70: Santa Clarita

-- No. 63: Corona 

-- No. 58: Fullerton

-- No. 53: Simi Valley 

-- No. 46: Anaheim

-- No. 39: Oceanside

LuvLink noted," In Oceanside, locals embody the breezy, coastal lifestyle that defines this beach town. With a love for outdoor activities and seaside relaxation, residents are always happy to recommend their favorite surf spots or local restaurants with ocean views. Their laid-back, approachable nature makes Oceanside a truly inviting destination for beach lovers."

-- No. 38: Irvine

-- No. 33: Huntington Beach

The No. 1 kindest city, based on the findings of this survey, is Toledo, Ohio. Buffalo, New York trailed in the No. 2 spot, followed by Manchester, New Hampshire as No. 3. The full rankings can be found here.

Over 50% of survey respondents stated that local hospitality is a major factor in choosing a travel destination, meaning cities that embrace friendliness could benefit from the loyalty of repeat visitors.