Relocating to San Luis Obispo County (Santa Maria, Atascadero: rental, crime, hotel)

[in1peace]

Our family of 4 (2 boys ages 8 and 5) are relocating to SLO county at the end of May. We are having trouble figuring out what areas we should be looking in to live. I've been reading many posts on this subject here but need to give some of our background so that you know what we're looking for. My husband is a self-employed General Contractor (specializing in Solar) who is looking for a job in any of the cities down there. I'm a kids' yoga instructor and stay-at-home Mom (former teacher) who is looking for a job teaching again. We are looking for a rental home on some acreage (I grew up on 44 acres in VA and miss the rural life but, nothing is affordable even to rent up here). I have found many on Craigslist but don't know which are safe, have good schools, etc. I would love your opinions on what the different cities are like, their weather, etc. from people who live there. The websites I've checked out have odd descriptions like "Landed Gentry" for Atascadero, etc. Thanks in advance for your help.

[PDXBound]

To be honest, I think San Luis County is one of the safest places you could possibly live. The only town I would stay away from is Oceano, and a small part of Grover Beach (close to Oceano). You will not find acreage in the city of SLO, so look towards North County. Sounth County might have some homes on acreage, but you will pay wayyyy too much for the rental. North County is much more family friendly, which you will find important once you move here and see how different the people are from city to city. I would suggest looking in Paso Robles, or Templeton. Templeton has the best school system, with something like 95% of children continuing on to a State College or University. Templeton is a fairly small town, so you would have to drive out of town for most ammenities, but a very nice community. Paso Robles is larger and has just about anything you desire for your family (unless you want a mall). You would likely find the acreage you want in Paso, and it would be the cheapest place to rent in the county. The crime is minimal just about everywhere, in fact, I laugh when people ask about crime in SLO.

As long as you stay away from Santa Maria, you will be just fine. Good luck!

[PDXBound]

To be honest, I think San Luis County is one of the safest places you could possibly live. The only town I would stay away from is Oceano, and a small part of Grover Beach (close to Oceano). You will not find acreage in the city of SLO, so look towards North County. Sounth County might have some homes on acreage, but you will pay wayyyy too much for the rental. North County is much more family friendly, which you will find important once you move here and see how different the people are from city to city. I would suggest looking in Paso Robles, or Templeton. Templeton has the best school system, with something like 95% of children continuing on to a State College or University. Templeton is a fairly small town, so you would have to drive out of town for most ammenities, but a very nice community. Paso Robles is larger and has just about anything you desire for your family (unless you want a mall). You would likely find the acreage you want in Paso, and it would be the cheapest place to rent in the county. The crime is minimal just about everywhere, in fact, I laugh when people ask about crime in SLO.

As long as you stay away from Santa Maria, you will be just fine. Good luck!

[the city]

In general South County (south of Cuesta Grade) is cooler than North County in the country-side. A hot streak in Paso can be in triple digits to 107. South County's cool weather has morning fog though, so commuting over the grade isnt a good idea. South county is more compact, but quality of living is better. North County could have a gang problem in the future and has higher water taxes. I would say traffic is worse in South County due to the Dalidio Ranch Marketplace and Irish Hills Plaza-Prefumo Creek Commons retail development. South County has more big-box stores than North County.


Yeah, Santa Maria is an okay area besides their schools and gang problem. Santa Maria has traffic all the time, their schools are way over packed, and they have gang troubles. If you have no kids, then Santa Maria is great.

Paso Robles is going to be at 47,000 population in 2020 with the Rivers Oaks 2, Chandler Ranch, and Olsen-Beechwood Ranch projects built out. In 2030, when the city is at 57,000 population there's a good chance around 2020 a regional open-air mall with Gottschalks and Sears will be built. The newest shopping center being built in Paso Robles is a Lowe's shopping center.

Atascadero will be at 36,000 population in 2030, and they have a lake park with a small nice zoo. They also have a Super Wal-Mart strip mall with some nice resturaunts that will be built in a couple years.

Templeton has a hospital, best school district in North County, an indoor gym being built, Trader Joes center and Long Drugs being built, hotel being built, a skate park, gas station, and in 2030 they will have 15,000 population. It's the most costly to live in all of North County also.

San Miguel is the most inexpensive to live in North County, and they expect to triple their 5,200 population estimate in 2030 to 16,000 population. They recently passed a housing project of 100 and 300 homes, and now are passing a project will 489 homes. All of these projects are along the 101 freeway, away from the current small town.

Pismo Beach expects to have 12,000 beach in 2030 and currently has an outlet mall and the beach with dunes and pier. Most expensive place to live in county.

San Luis Obispo is at 45,000 population right now, expensive to live there. Downtown has night club, 7 screen theater, and upscale retail clothing stores. They will be at 47,000 population in 2030.

Shandon is a small town at 1,000 population, but when the Shandon Specific Plan is passed the town will be adding a sewage plant. That means 4,000 to 10,000 more could live there. Meaning the town could be at 11,000 population in 2030.

[in1peace]

Thanks for the feedback! We've decided to go down tomorrow to look at a few places...Do you have any information about Lake Nacimiento Rd. and the elementary school that is there?..I think it's called Georgia Brown. It seems like a total immersion Spanish school but, I'm not sure.

[the city]

Originally Posted by in1peace

Thanks for the feedback! We've decided to go down tomorrow to look at a few places...Do you have any information about Lake Nacimiento Rd. and the elementary school that is there?..I think it's called Georgia Brown. It seems like a total immersion Spanish school but, I'm not sure.

Not much besides the fact I think it's new and I've passed by it before. Lake Nacimento is a pricey area to live in. lake isnt used for recreation much anymore. the town's population in 2030 is excepted to be at 8,000. it's at 4,000 now.

I'm also gonna mention that this county will never get Macy's. It's possible in the Dalidio Ranch Marketplace, but never in North County. Gottschalks and Sears will probably be in Paso's mall. And I'd expect Costco in Paso one day soon too.

[the city]

Oh, and Paso has more stuff to do than SLO does.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by the city

Oh, and Paso has more stuff to do than SLO does.

WHAT???????????

[grimstuff]

Originally Posted by Lt. Dan

WHAT???????????

By more "stuff," the city means there's a target, a water park, and more strip malls. Paso is nice, but it doesn't have a thing on SLO.

BTW, not everyone on this board is an adult....

[the city]

Originally Posted by Lt. Dan

WHAT???????????

I mean Paso Bowl and their family fun center, Skate-Mor, JC Paintball, MVP Batting Cages, the expansion of Paso's Wal-Mart to a Super Wal-Mart, and in the Summer The Ravine water park and Mid-State Fair. Their's also the fact that the water park might get laser tag, and in about 15 years Paso could get a regional open-air mall with an arcade and food court, Sears and Gottschalks. And Paso has a skate park and 8 screen theater. Yes, I can agree most of those activities are for teenagers and younger people like myself. That's because North County's population is mainly families and hispanics coming from LA area. For adults, there's a Super Wal-Mart, the fair, the mall's food court, and wineries. San Luis Obispo has The Grad night club, 7 screen theater, drive-in theater, and downtown shopping for college students and adults.