Lompoc, California (Fresno, Riverside, Bakersfield: relocating, agriculture, military)

[dooozie]

Anyone live in Lompoc? We are relocating there as soon as we sell our house here in the San Joaquin Valley. I can't wait to get out of this heat and move close to the coast.

I would like some feedback re shopping, house prices (ouch), crime, etc.

Thanks folks.

Dooozie

[greatbasinguide]

Think about this long and hard. You probably won't like it. As stated elsewhere, Lompoc is not a desireable location.

[dooozie]

I am surprised at your response greatbasinguide. Can you elaborate? Have you lived there yourself? Although I have only visited there, it seems like a very nice little town. I am sure the crime rate couldn't be higher than that here in the San Joaquin Valley where we have Mexican and Hmong Gangs galore, especially in Fresno. I am not in Fresno, but in a smaller town further South which also has an air base. I do not find that a deterrent. The new homes that are being build are lovely with tile roofs, gourmet kitchens, and lots of emenities. The weather is ideal year round--unlike the SJ Valley which reached 114 last summer. I won't miss that. I would like to hear more from you gratbasinguide.

[Twinkle Toes]

One of my husband's death row clients is in a prison in Lompoc. But that aside, Lompoc is probably a pretty nice place!

[dooozie]

Right now we are surrounded by State Prisons - 2 in Corcoran, 1 in Coalinga, Chowchilla, Avenal, etc. The entire State is overrun with prisons. At least some of the bad guys are behind bars. haha It's the ones that are still roaming the streets (out on parole ) that are a worry. Thanks for your reply.

[greatbasinguide]

Ok,,, I grew up in the area,, not Lompoc but a bit north. Lompoc was started many years ago as a utopian colony, it has long since left its roots.

We played against Lompoc in High School, even then it was a spooky place with mean kids and gangs.

Because of the Base and the agriculture, the town is loaded with low income people. I hate to sound like a bigot, but Mexican and Black, tie that together with low income and you have a problem as you know. Santa Maria is similiar but also has some high income areas. Lompoc does not have much else going for it. The beach is not really beachable, cool and windy and small, surrounded by the Base.

However..... if you go east,, not very far you come to Los Alamos, which is nice,, and as you go east from there, Santa Ynez and Solvang are very nice.

If a job stuck you in Lompoc you could make the best of it of course, but if you have some flexibility, within easy driving range are very nice places..

Take some time and drive around,,, see what there is to see. You may get a different opinion,,, but Lompoc is much like some of the rundown valley towns,, I might even prefer Coalinga to Lompoc... But I would take Lompoc over Avenal

[puffle]

Lompoc was part of my sales territory and from what I remember, it was like going back in time,not a good time. Certainly not a place I would want to send my kids to school. It seemed backward and very dull. Solvang is pretty which is close by, but not much going on except if you have a ranch or retail stores for tourists and it does get hot in the summer. Lompoc isn't a step up from places like Bakersfield if you ask me.

[dooozie]

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

Ok,,, I grew up in the area,, not Lompoc but a bit north. Lompoc was started many years ago as a utopian colony, it has long since left its roots.

We played against Lompoc in High School, even then it was a spooky place with mean kids and gangs.

Because of the Base and the agriculture, the town is loaded with low income people. I hate to sound like a bigot, but Mexican and Black, tie that together with low income and you have a problem as you know. Santa Maria is similiar but also has some high income areas. Lompoc does not have much else going for it. The beach is not really beachable, cool and windy and small, surrounded by the Base.

However..... if you go east,, not very far you come to Los Alamos, which is nice,, and as you go east from there, Santa Ynez and Solvang are very nice.

If a job stuck you in Lompoc you could make the best of it of course, but if you have some flexibility, within easy driving range are very nice places..

Take some time and drive around,,, see what there is to see. You may get a different opinion,,, but Lompoc is much like some of the rundown valley towns,, I might even prefer Coalinga to Lompoc... But I would take Lompoc over Avenal

Yikes, Coalinga? OMG. That is depressing. Yes, a job is taking us to Lompoc. We will definitely check into Los Alamos. There is also Orcutt which we haven't checked out. They have developed some beautiful areas in Lompoc; Mission Hills, the Riverside area, Vandenberg Village (which we have vetoed), and Centex is building some really nice houses out on Bailey Avenue. Lompoc housing is very high, and I imagine Los Alamos is the same. Solvang is out of sight. We would have to spend $1M for a 4 BR house there compared to approx $550,000 in Lompoc for something similar. When we drove around town, it didn't look that depressed. Of course, every town has its good and bad areas. There are new shopping areas; new Walmart, Vons, Mervyns, etc. I would probably have to go to Santa Maria to do any fancier shopping.

I drove to Surf Beach to check it out and I agree. It isn't much, but hey, you can watch the waves ebb and flow.

Thanks for your input. It gives us something to think about.

[dooozie]

puffle how long ago were you there? I saw lots of upgrading and rejuvination going on all over town. The murels are beautiful and I can't wait to see the flower fields.

[reddirtgirl]

Having lived in Lompoc for 5 years after relocating here from Texas for a job in SB, I can honestly say it a great small town. Yes there are gangs and a prison but there are lots of military personnel and prison guards who live in town and I have never felt unsafe in my home or neighborhood. And I live in town - not in the hills above or a gated community. I like the fact that we are not overrun by the big box stores (yet), that we have a large ethnic diversity as compared to SB and that I am only 45 mins from Pismo (a real beach) or the cultural events of UCSB or CalPoly. We only have a few great restaurants and the service is better than I have ever had in Santa Ynez or SM or SB. The downside is the lack of nightlife and great theater or huge shopping choices or a Trader Joes but Santa Maria is a 20 minute drive and the housing is still the best deal in the area and the weather is consistent. SO move here with the knowledge that the time here is what you make of it and you can entertain yourself easily if not conveinently, your kids can play safely in the front yard because the drivebys don't happen but once or twice a year and prisoners are only trying to leave town if they try and break out - which if they did would not only have prison staff hunting but an entire military base. The city owns it's own water and electricity and broadband network and there are private schools here if you do not wish to get involved in improving the public schools for everyone. MOST of the residents are displaced Santa Barbara employees who commute every week day and enjoy living in a sleepy little town without a major freeway running through it, commercial trains in your backyard and planes landing on your head every half hour. I welcome you to the neighborhood.