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Hi all. I currently live in the Front Range in Colorado (Fort Collins to Pueblo) but grew up in the Sacramento area of California until about 3 years ago. I am currently considering a move back to CA but to the Bakersfield to Fresno area.
I wanted to know from those familiar with the Front Range area and the Bakersfield to Fresno area how they compare in the quality of life as well as how this area of CA compares to the Sacto/Gold Country area which I am more familiar with. I wanted to visit the Bakersfield area but cannot, so am looking for as much info as I can get before deciding.
The issues of primary concern would be revolving around quality of life. For instance: smog, crime, population density, traffic, poverty/economy, natural resources like mountain/forest access and quality, as well as parks and lakes etc. etc., and whatever else one might think of.
I mostly want to live near Bakersfield, but not in it. So my choices are nearby rural communities between Bakersfield and Fresno but as close to Bakersfield as possible, but am willing to travel a little ways there to live in a good community. If you could comment on these communities between Bakersfield and Fresno, which are better and why, that would be excellent. I have been looking into areas like Porterville, Tulare, Wasco, Visalia, Arvin, Delano, Lindsay, Exeter, Woodlake, Tehachapi etc. etc. But I am open to any credit and discredit and suggestion regarding communities in this area, as well as quality of life compared to where I am now.
Please feel free to ask any questions to help the process. Much help is greatly needed as I am NOT able to visit before I make a decision. I really want to come home to CA but have been made aware of many of the issues facing the state these days and it seems troubling. I am constantly running into people who have moved here or elsewhere trying to get out of CA for various reasons. Please be descript to help with my decisions. Thank you for your help.
Last edited by countryway; 08-09-2011 at 08:08 PM..
Hi all. I currently live in the Front Range in Colorado (Fort Collins to Pueblo) but grew up in the Sacramento area of California until about 3 years ago. I am currently considering a move back to CA but to the Bakersfield to Fresno area.
I wanted to know from those familiar with the Front Range area and the Bakersfield to Fresno area how they compare in the quality of life as well as how this area of CA compares to the Sacto/Gold Country area which I am more familiar with. I wanted to visit the Bakersfield area but cannot, so am looking for as much info as I can get before deciding.
The issues of primary concern would be revolving around quality of life. For instance: smog, crime, population density, traffic, poverty/economy, natural resources like mountain/forest access and quality, as well as parks and lakes etc. etc., and whatever else one might think of.
I mostly want to live near Bakersfield, but not in it. So my choices are nearby rural communities between Bakersfield and Fresno but as close to Bakersfield as possible, but am willing to travel a little ways there to live in a good community. If you could comment on these communities between Bakersfield and Fresno, which are better and why, that would be excellent.
Please feel free to ask any questions to help the process. Much help is greatly needed as I am NOT able to visit before I make a decision. I really want to come home to CA but have been made aware of many of the issues facing the state these days and it seems troubling. I am constantly running into people who have moved here or elsewhere trying to get out of CA for various reasons. Please be descript to help with my decisions. Thank you for your help.
Between Visalia/Tulare and Bakersfield, there aren't many viable towns I'd choose to live in.
I used to live on the Palmer Divide between Colorado Springs and Castle Rock. Cold, Windy, icy roads, beautiful, thunderstorms, nice neighborhoods, no crime, little to no diversity (except in Denver), relaxed, spread out, never hot, strong military presence in the Springs.
What is your job situation? What line of work are you in?
Buying or renting? Budget?
Where is your family (parents, etc) located? Other support network?
Married?
Kids? Ages?
Why do you want to leave?
How can anyone live on the Front Range - its hundreds of miles long. Where do you live? Pueblo is very different from the Springs which is different from Denver which is different from Fort Collins.
How can anyone live on the Front Range - its hundreds of miles long. Where do you live? Pueblo is very different from the Springs which is different from Denver which is different from Fort Collins.
Same goes for everything between Bakersfield and Sacramento. (Are you the female half of Charles?)
OP, why don't you want to live in Bakersfield? In general, the quality of life along the Front Range far exceeds the Central Valley.
In general, the quality of life along the Front Range far exceeds the Central Valley.
Concur. Like others have commented, am puzzled as to the intention of moving to an area considered one of the least desirable in California. If forced to choose one of the options given, would pick Tehachapi, hands down, but it is a bit isolated and a long commute to Bakersfield or Lancaster. Being from Sacramento the OP should be familiar with the Gold Country and Sierra foothill communities east of Sac. Good quality of life in many of them. Lots of threads and posts about these small towns on the Sacramento forum.
Man, I have to warn you that you'd better stay in where you, and not consider any place around Bakersfield if you can. Here are the Pros and Cons (I moved here 10 years ago.)
Pros:
1. Close to a lot of fun places-L.A., the central coast, Las Vegas, Yosemite, -for a weekend's plan.
2. Living expenses are lower than the rest of the state.
3. low level oil jobs are not too hard to get if you are in this field.
Con:
1. Horrible air quality for the most of a year, especially June, July, and August. Half the town smells cow poop for many days.
2. Scorching dry heat in the summer, but not too bad at night; however, outdoor activities should be limited at night thanks to its nasty air quality.
2. High unemployment rate. (15%~17% solid for long time)
3. boring place in general, and teens go to a local shopping mall to hang out.
4. The majority of the people are very, very ,very narrow-minded due to poor education. (yes, statistics support this conclusion)
5. Unsafe town, shooting and murdering covers the news almost everyday.(it is unproportional for this town with a 300,000 population.
6. Most schools here are among the worst.
I will try to address the above posters concerning their statements and questions.
proudmommy: I stated in my post that the reason I want to leave and come there is because I miss my home state. My family will all be with me. My job situation is of no concern. I am also a musician and expect to find plenty of Country Music opportunities in the Bakersfield area. When I say the "Front Range" it is what we refer to as the area from Fort Collins to Pueblo. I have lived and travel up and down the Front Range. The Central Valley of CA is very long too and was doing a comparison between the both, however I am very familiar with the Sacto area, but not further south than Merced. I live currently in Fort Collins.
David Aguilar: I don't want to live in Bakersfield, because it is too big of a city.
Black Shoe: I was raised in the Sacto/San Joaquin Valley area and lived there for 25 years. I am not sure if you are referring to this area as "one of the worst" but if so I respectfully disagree. I have never lived in Sacramento but in surrounding areas, in much smaller communities within an hour or less away, that were wonderful places to live and grow up. I have not been there in 3 years so maybe much has changed? I do understand that some places are less desirable than others, and yes, I am very, very familiar with Gold Country as I mentioned. I Have spent a great amount of time in the Mother Lode, and foothill regions. If I move back to CA it has to be around Bakersfield, primarily for work and a desire for a change from Nor-Cal.
Some things that I need to mention, that I failed to in my Original Post, is that we are a conservative, traditional-values family, that prefers small, country-rural-agricultural communities to big-city life. My parents are both from Midwest rural communities. I am interested in a town that is old-fashioned, with a simple way of life but not too small. I was told Porterville might be, but then again not?
Some of you keep saying it is a very undesirable place, but do not expound? Please do. I need details. I am OK with 115 degree dry heat, loved it in Arizona. I am not concerned with high unemployment rate. And we will be renting. Please include more info on why this area is good or not good, and if there are areas more preferrable to others. I have never been to this area and the last time my Dad was, was several decades ago. I assume times have changed. Thanks so much.
I will try to address the above posters concerning their statements and questions.
proudmommy: I stated in my post that the reason I want to leave and come there is because I miss my home state. My family will all be with me. My job situation is of no concern. I am also a musician and expect to find plenty of Country Music opportunities in the Bakersfield area. When I say the "Front Range" it is what we refer to as the area from Fort Collins to Pueblo. I have lived and travel up and down the Front Range. The Central Valley of CA is very long too and was doing a comparison between the both, however I am very familiar with the Sacto area, but not further south than Merced. I live currently in Fort Collins.
David Aguilar: I don't want to live in Bakersfield, because it is too big of a city.
Black Shoe: I was raised in the Sacto/San Joaquin Valley area and lived there for 25 years. I am not sure if you are referring to this area as "one of the worst" but if so I respectfully disagree. I have never lived in Sacramento but in surrounding areas, in much smaller communities within an hour or less away, that were wonderful places to live and grow up. I have not been there in 3 years so maybe much has changed? I do understand that some places are less desirable than others, and yes, I am very, very familiar with Gold Country as I mentioned. I Have spent a great amount of time in the Mother Lode, and foothill regions. If I move back to CA it has to be around Bakersfield, primarily for work and a desire for a change from Nor-Cal.
Some things that I need to mention, that I failed to in my Original Post, is that we are a conservative, traditional-values family, that prefers small, country-rural-agricultural communities to big-city life. My parents are both from Midwest rural communities. I am interested in a town that is old-fashioned, with a simple way of life but not too small. I was told Porterville might be, but then again not?
Some of you keep saying it is a very undesirable place, but do not expound? Please do. I need details. I am OK with 115 degree dry heat, loved it in Arizona. I am not concerned with high unemployment rate. And we will be renting. Please include more info on why this area is good or not good, and if there are areas more preferrable to others. I have never been to this area and the last time my Dad was, was several decades ago. I assume times have changed. Thanks so much.
Tehachapi. I've not been there, but I hear it is a very lovely small town that is rural. It's about 45 minutes drive from Bakersfield and the weather can be a bit milder than Bakersfield.
You can also look at Lake Isabella, but the commute via 178 along the cliffs of the mountain makes me a bit nervous every time I drive up there. 45 minutes east from Bakersfield.
Shafter is also worth taking a look but I don't know very much about the area. I do know it is about 20 min drive from Bakersfield.
Porterville is decent, but it's about 45 min drive away from Bakersfield and in the middle of nowhere. That said, I would probably prefer to live in Tehachapi or Lake Isabella than Porterville.
If you don't mind going further south of Bakersfield, there is a small town called Lebec which is off of Interstate 5 in the Grapevine mountain. Very rural, if that is what you're looking for.
Tehachapi. I've not been there, but I hear it is a very lovely small town that is rural. It's about 45 minutes drive from Bakersfield and the weather can be a bit milder than Bakersfield.
You can also look at Lake Isabella, but the commute via 178 along the cliffs of the mountain makes me a bit nervous every time I drive up there. 45 minutes east from Bakersfield.
Shafter is also worth taking a look but I don't know very much about the area. I do know it is about 20 min drive from Bakersfield.
Porterville is decent, but it's about 45 min drive away from Bakersfield and in the middle of nowhere. That said, I would probably prefer to live in Tehachapi or Lake Isabella than Porterville.
If you don't mind going further south of Bakersfield, there is a small town called Lebec which is off of Interstate 5 in the Grapevine mountain. Very rural, if that is what you're looking for.
Hope this helps.
Thanks, that does help very much. These are all places I am looking into, except Lebec, never heard of it but will investigate. When you say Porterville is decent, what do you feel is wrong with it, or with what do you credit or discredit? I know you said it is remote. Anything else? Yes, i have been told several times about tehachapi, it does sound nice and probably gonna make my short list, thanks for another recommendation.
Some people like Porterville, others don't. Like Tim said it is decent but your view might be different.
But air quality monitoring started 2 years ago in Porterville and the area is turning out to be one of the worse in the Valley for ozone. So far this year, twice as many high smog days in Porterville than Fresno, Bakersfield or Visalia.
I like Exeter but that would be an hour from Bakersfield. On the other hand its near Visalia which has a good but small live music scene. My favorite cowboy music group, the Sons of the San Joaquin, is out of the Visalia area. The Sons of the San Joaquin - Home Page
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