Most Respected Californian City (Los Angeles, San Diego: real estate, buy, cost of)

[MickeyDickey]

Out of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco which city have you observed gets the most respect from Midwesterners who have actually visited. Meaning which of these cities do people from the Midwest visit and say "If I had the money, I would move here."

[Fontucky]

How do we know when someone is a Midwesterner? They're not like people from NYC, who feel the need to tell everyone where they're from... over and over and over. Or should I say "ovuh and ovuh and ovuh?"

[mstnghu2]

Yeah, I'm a bit confused. How would we know who the midwesterners are? I have never personally heard anybody say "I am from the midwest and if I had the money, I'd move here."

And, why specifically these cities? There are other large cities that play an important role in CA as well, such as Sacramento and San Jose.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

Yeah, I'm a bit confused. How would we know who the midwesterners are? I have never personally heard anybody say "I am from the midwest and if I had the money, I'd move here."

And, why specifically these cities? There are other large cities that play an important role in CA as well, such as Sacramento and San Jose.

And don't forget Arvin and Weed Patch.

[sav858]

I think San Diego, it's less extreme compared to SF and LA and has a more middle American vibe to it.

[mstnghu2]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

And don't forget Arvin and Weed Patch.

Barstow is pretty awesome too!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

Barstow is pretty awesome too!

People have such respect for these towns that they don't even dare name them or talk about them out loud.

[MickeyDickey]

I guess what I really mean to ask is which of these cities appeals most to
the sensibilities of the average midwesterner. I know that they cannot be
equal in this regard.

[MtnSurfer]

I'd say its a toss up between SD & LA. Although at a minimum you need to throw OC in there as well which is a *very popular* choice. SF is a bit too out there in left field by Midwestern standards, generally speaking of course. There are of many other options as others have mentioned. San Jose/Silicon Valley is another big pull. This is more for job opportunies with the big tech companies. Even Midwesterners vary in terms of what appeals to them. Some want the beach lifestyle they never had, while others want something similar to what they are used too - middle class suburbia. The one thing which I have noticed with all my midwestern friends is that *none* get used to the high cost of real estate. Though the well paid, well educated eventually accept it for what it is and sometimes buy regardless. I've also seen some thrive in the big cities for a season (sometimes a decade+) and then eventually return to quieter places they know as home.

Derek

[pistola916]

Sacramento. Very midwestern feel. small town charm. surrounded by rice fields, flat, not very cosmopolitan