Help! Wisconsin Family Looking For Affordable Place In CALIFORNIA

[GoPadres]

Originally Posted by landrover06

Without much money, you will be looking away from the coastal cities. How about Sacramento? It's a capital city and probably closer in pace to WI.

It is true that Sac would be about the same pace, but the air quality is really, truly awful. That is an issue with almost anywhere in CA (except for very Northern CA) . One reason we moved out of Davis/Sacramento area was to improve our daughter's asthma. In addition to the smog, you will encounter different types of allergy causing plants throughout the state. The vegetation is so diverse here as we have mountains and deserts with everything in between. The allergies in So Cal do not bother me as much as No Cal, but I know people who are the exact opposite. San Diego has been a nice change, because there is less smog and irritants in the air.


Auburn, CA has the population that you're looking for. It is very close to Sacramento, but it has old town charm, evergreens, oak trees, and used to be an old mining town. IF it were to snow, it wouldn't even last a day. The rivers are fun and beautiful and the people are nice. You won't find many cookie cutter communities, so if you would like newer homes then you could try Lincoln. Also close to Sacramento, but it doesn't have any scenery and is very flat and is also mired in the air muck. Keep in mind that home prices are falling in Sac and San Diego, so you may not want to purchase right now.


All that said- CA is a wonderful place.

[Caliguy2007]

You need to give us more details on what you and your family are looking for,because Bakersfield and Las Vegas are total opposites in many ways.

[tinasgt2005]

One of the things to consider in regards to the central valley is valley fever. People have been raised here have always been exposed but if you have not you will be at a higher risk of developing valley fever. Also, we just had a report that Kern County has the highest west nile cases in the state. If you are considering the Bakersfield area check into the Tehachapi area. It is the mountain area about 35 minutes from Bakersfield. They get the four seasons. Great small town feel and they have quite a bit of shopping.

[postitnote]

From where in Wisconsin are you moving? Milwaukee metro, northern, Madison?

We live in Hanford and love it. I grew up in Waukesha and it actually has some similarities to that area. We are 2 hours from snow sports, water skiing within an hour, and live among nice folks. Curious to hear where you live now.

[rebesider]

I've lived in California for 35 years, and I grew up in Santa Barbara. I would have to agree that Sacramento may be one or your best bets. I've lived in southern Cal which is ridiculously expensive, and the central valley (Tulare, Visalia, etc.) which is hot (110) in the summer and not great for allergies, and in northern Cal in the redwoods which are beautiful, but lack of jobs there. Sacramento has a lot to offer as far as jobs, and it's central location in the state. Good luck with your move! I have 3 children and am looking to leave California for more affordable housing and 4 seasons.

[mysticaltyger]

No offense to people in Bakersfield....but it's really not that great of an area to live. It's got a lot of agriculture and oil fields there. Hot in the summer, sorta chilly in winter by California standards. They have a lot of air pollution and since it's agricultural, I'm sure a lot of people have allergy problems as well.

It tends to be a low income area. It has a lot of poor people and an above average crime rate. I can't imagine it would be a good place to raise a family as the quality of life just isn't there. The schools are not likely to be very good. It is a fairly fast growing area...but it's probably growing fast because it's cheap by California standards. My impression is people move there sorta because they feel they have to...not because they really want to.

And even though it's "cheap" to live there by CA standards....it really is not a cheap place to live. Housing costs there are still above the national average and wages are well below the national average.

You might be better off putting up with those cold winters in Wisconsin than living in Bakersfield.

[jendgroom]

If you are looking for somewhere near Sacramento shoot for Rocklin. It is 20 -30 minutes from Sacramento (depends on where in Sacramento you are going) It is a smaller area with less crime. But still close enough to the big city.

[mysticaltyger]

I also wanted to agree with what others have said about Sacramento. It is by far the nicest place to live if you're going to live in California's Central Valley. It has a lot of cookie cutter suburban sprawl...but it also has lots of nice shady trees and some cute neighbhorhoods in the midtown and East Sacramento areas...and in other parts as well. It also seems to have it's share of nice parks.

Sac. has the same kind of air pollution / allergy problems as Bakersfield. I am asthmatic and lived in Sac. The air quality there wasn't great in summer, but I did ok.

I would also think there are more job opportunities in Sac. as well. The cost of living there has sorta skyrocketed in recent years, but I think housing prices there are coming down....but they are still high, although much lower than in the coastal areas.

As far as weather goes, it is hot in summer, but generally 5-10 degrees cooler than Bakersfield. Despite the fact that it is a lot further north than Bakersfield, the winters are maybe only 2-4 degrees cooler than in Bakersfield...I think that's because Sac. gets more exposure to the winds from the Pacific Ocean than Bakersfield does...so the weather is somewhat less extreme.