Best place to live in Northern California? (San Jose, Sacramento: crime rates, house prices)

[Catkin]

We are currently living in the UK and are thinking of moving to Northern California but don't know whereabouts to live. My husband works in IT (AIX / Linux Administrator) and we have 2 daughters (age 5 and 10 months). We therefore would like to live somewhere within reasonable communting distance to IT work and large shops but ideally in a small friendly town with good schools and a baptist church. We are looking to buy a detached house with a good size garden (maybe with a pool) in a friendly neighbourhood. Great weather would be a bonus. It would be nice to be able to get to a beach within a 45 minute drive (not essential though) and for vacations we like to spend time camping / lake fishing / kayaking etc. (obviously when baby is bigger!!) Can anyone recommend somewhere that would suit us? Also, what are the pros and cons of living in northern california? If you have any links to IT jobs and salaries in the area / house prices that would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[LiveInColfax]

With wanting to be near the ocean I would suggest Sebastapol, St Helena, Bodega, maybe Petaluma (that is a bigger city though). If you can be farther from the ocean Placer & El Dorado Counties have high tech jobs and a scattering of smaller towns all within 40 minutes or so of Sacramento. I would suggest Granite Bay, Folsom, Newcastle, Auburn as a few possibilites, it all depends on your definition of a small town. Intel is in Folsom, HP in Roseville. There are lots of recreation lakes, camping in the mountains. Nevada City and Grass Valley also have some high tech jobs, good schools, and shopping, cooler winters.

[$$$Devin$$$]

i would suggest the redding area up mopre towards oregon. I visited down there for maybe a week and was surprised at the weather and awesome atmosphere down there.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Catkin

We therefore would like to live somewhere within reasonable communting distance to IT work and large shops but ideally in a small friendly town with good schools and a baptist church. We are looking to buy a detached house with a good size garden (maybe with a pool) in a friendly neighbourhood. Great weather would be a bonus. It would be nice to be able to get to a beach within a 45 minute drive (not essential though) and for vacations we like to spend time camping / lake fishing / kayaking etc. (obviously when baby is bigger!!) Can anyone recommend somewhere that would suit us? Also, what are the pros and cons of living in northern california? If you have any links to IT jobs and salaries in the area / house prices that would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Why do you want to move to Northern California?

Have you ever been to Northern California?

What is your housing price range?

[Happymomd&m]

Hello... I don't typically blog but your request hit me between the eyes. I moved to Northern California over 20 years ago. I have found the ideal area to raise a family, by the sea with access to the tech industry. We live in Scotts Valley, CA. Small town of about 11,000. Small enough to feel familiar but not so small to feel like everyone knows your business. The schools elementary schools are both highly rated. Brook Knoll is a 10 and Vine Hill is a 9 out of a scale of 10. You also mentioned the beach... we are about 10 minutes from the beaches... Santa Cruz or the more village feel of Capitola Beach. Good luck with your decision!

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Happymomd&m

Hello... I don't typically blog but your request hit me between the eyes. I moved to Northern California over 20 years ago. I have found the ideal area to raise a family, by the sea with access to the tech industry. We live in Scotts Valley, CA. Small town of about 11,000. Small enough to feel familiar but not so small to feel like everyone knows your business. The schools elementary schools are both highly rated. Brook Knoll is a 10 and Vine Hill is a 9 out of a scale of 10. You also mentioned the beach... we are about 10 minutes from the beaches... Santa Cruz or the more village feel of Capitola Beach. Good luck with your decision!

I hope they've made it by now ... their decision ... since the post was made over a year ago.
Hi up there in S.V.

[Shadow Dude]

Hmm, im surprised no one has said 'Silicon Valley' for IT jobs. Personally with America's economy not being the greatest and California having by far the highest housing prices ive ever known your going to need quite a cash. Being from Nothern California [Newark], I'd have to say check out these 5 cities, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Newark[No IT jobs here really, but good enough for a commute], Los Altos, and Milpitas. Now if your not sure these cities are in the Bay Area. The weather here is generally sunny, and in the winter we get rain really, no thunderstorms are screaming winds, lightning, snow, etc. for the most part. When it come to the beach it wont be that far of a drive, and the kayaking and stuff you can drive up to Lake Tahoe for those things. The church can be found anywhere around here, there are tons of churches in the Bay Area. Just stay out of Palo Alto, Oakland, Richmond, Parts of Hayward and Union City as they have higher to high crime rates.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Shadow Dude

Just stay out of Palo Alto, Oakland, Richmond, Parts of Hayward and Union City as they have higher to high crime rates.

The crime index for Palo Alto is less than half the United States Average


Palo Alto is 153 and the United States is 320

[Majin]

Stockton

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Majin

Stockton

you're somewhat annoying and not so funny.
i realize my remark will only encourage you but, oh well.
just had to say.
if your bitter about california or think that people searching for a place to live is silly, why hang around?