Atascadero CA (San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo: real estate, college, to live)

[Greg E]

Thinking of moving to Atascadero because of the lower real estate prices but I don't want summer temps over 85. Have been told that the far west side of town has a great climate due to being only 8-15 miles from the ocean (Morro Bay).
Is anyone familiar with this?
I'll be commuting to my job in Arroyo Grande which I believe is 20-30 minutes away.
Any advice or info would be appreciated.

[stellar9]

Atascadero is in an inland valley and routinely gets into the 90s in the summer and a few weeks of over 100. Morro Bay is at the coast. The coast temps are much more temperate and probably more to your liking. Nipomo, south of Arroyo Grande, also has good housing prices and the climate isn't as hot in the summer as Atascadero. San Luis Obispo also has summer temps rarely over 85, but of course the housing is higher.
Far West Atascadero, on the way to Morro Bay is not close to 101 and therefore your commute time will be longer than the 30 minutes it would be if you got onto the freeway quickly.

Micki

[Lori4Life]

Atascadero is gets really hot in the summer. Normally in the 90-100's. I would move to South SLO County if that is your main concern. Plus driving over the grade is a pain.

[greatbasinguide]

It isn't a wonderful commute to Arroyo, it will take 45 minutes to an hour. Unless they turned the highway from Atascadero into a bobsled run the drive is longer than what you were told.

Take a look at Nipomo, or even Grover City.

Curious, what sort of job will take you to Arroyo Grande?

[OCCASparky]

Aw, come on, doesn't ANYONE want to live next to the state hospital?

[PasadenaGuy]

(newbie here...)

I'm one of those LA people who hopes to retire in SLO County in a few years. I greatly enjoy the variety of communities available (beach, college, ag, tourist, etc.) there. I prefer the Oaks studded hillsides and savannas of the North County (Atascadero and Paso Robles). Yes it gets hot, but never gets fogged-in - and you get a little more for your housing dollars there.

Is the North County considered the unsophisticated place where the "hicks" live? Is the state hospital in Atas really an issue? Other than the freeway grade, are there other serious drawbacks to North County?

[greatbasinguide]

The north county is full of vineyards and sophisticated horse ranches, you can think of it as the new Santa Ynez Valley. The hospital has a big fence, hardly anyone gets out, not to worry.

[ExNYC]

greatbasinguide, LOL, great assessment!

[PasadenaGuy]

I can confirm that West Atascadero in the hills does get some ocean breezes which keep it cooler than "downtown" Atascadero. I agree with others, however, that it will be more like 40+ minutes to get from there to Arroyo Grande.

Thanks for the tip basinguide on the hospital fence. My goal will be to make sure they keep me on the OUTSIDE of the fence... ;-)

[CalSLO]

I have lived in San Luis Obispo County all my life (42 years). I grew up in Atascadero and moved away when I was 19. I have lived in San Luis Obispo which is 17 miles south since then. Anywhere east of the range of coastal mountains is going to see temperatures above 85 during a good part of the summer. It won't matter whether you live on the west side of town or not, you need to be totally on the other side of the mountains which separate Atascadero from Morro Bay to get any relief from the heat. Anywhere west of the moutains (the coast basically) is usually in the 60 - low 80's in the summertime depending on how foggy it is.

San Luis Obispo (SLO) is the priciest city of all in the area but it has some of the most moderate weather in the country because it is in a valley that is surrounded by hills but is exposed to the ocean on side via the Los Osos valley. This means we stay about 15-25 degrees cooler in the summer than the North County (Paso and Atascadero) and we don't get any of the fog.