Suggestions for family-friendly coastal town? (Los Angeles, San Diego: mortgage, smog, budget)

[nevergoingback]

Originally Posted by the city

There aren't any gangs in Orcutt. But Guadalupe and Santa Maria do have gangs. And all the schools are bad-Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria High School, Righetti, and even their private school St. Joseph is over crowded. All the public schools have over 2,500 kids. Until they build a new school, I would never raise my kids there.

Yeah I hear ya! Thats why im never going back there, And thats the reason I moved, So I guess It wouldnt be family friendly!!! Compared to where I live now there are no family friendly places in Ca.!!

Funny I graduated in 95 from Righetti with the largest frosh class..... its been larger EVERY single year since!! now the parking lot is portable classrooms and the campus looks like crap. Sorry if off topic Ill shutup now. Good Luck In California, It treated me good!!!

[bjess]

Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz

[happ]

Originally Posted by the city

I definately agree with what you're saying ruby. That town near Santa Cruz is great, and not as expensive as Santa Cruz I believe. Monterey and Carmel is pretty expensive too, but Pacific Grove next to Monterey is great. Soquel is probably your best option.

I wouldn't suggest San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara, since they not family orientated, they are college towns. Pismo Beach is great, but more costly than Monterey and Santa Cruz.

I wouldn't suggest Guadulupe or Orcutt either, since the gang problem in that area has grown to be prety bad.

If you don't mind being too far from the beach, Atascadero is a half hour drive to the beach and relatively good cost of living.

The first place I thought of was Santa Cruz [like Aptos/Capitola]. Also Pismo Beach/Avila Beach. Santa Barbara/Goleta/Carpinteria area is expensive but a great place to live.

[nanannie]

What about Crescent City ? Is that a nice beach community?

[happ]

Originally Posted by nanannie

What about Crescent City ? Is that a nice beach community?

Unfortunately Crescent City, like Eureka & Arcata are too cold for many people who want to live in a "beach" community. Aside from Bolinas/Tomales bay, the first "beach" town is Santa Cruz [& it is numero Uno for many Californians].

There are great "beach" cities in SoCal but all are very expensive. Ventura/Port Hueneme/Pt Mugu the least expensive; Malibu the most expensive. Santa Monica to Palos Verdes offers urban beaches: Venice/Marina del Rey/Redondo/Hermosa & Long Beach. Laguna has a sorta small town feel as well as Balboa/Corona del Mar. The beach cities further south [Dana Pt/San Clemente/San Diego Co] aren't too crowded but getting there fast.

[nanannie]

Thanks hap, in reading more, Crescent City sounds more like an Oregon beach town, cold ,rainy,foggy.

[Petrala]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Thanks hap, in reading more, Crescent City sounds more like an Oregon beach town, cold ,rainy,foggy.

oh god yeah. North north CA beach towns are gorgeous but chilly and often foggy. I know a ton of people who have moved from the midwest and back east to northern CA coast and had to move b/c they got depressed b/c of the fog and cold.

On the other hand, I don't mind it, but people have to be really realistic about what they're getting into.

[DD70]

Originally Posted by the city

I definately agree with what you're saying ruby. That town near Santa Cruz is great, and not as expensive as Santa Cruz I believe. Monterey and Carmel is pretty expensive too, but Pacific Grove next to Monterey is great. Soquel is probably your best option.

I wouldn't suggest San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara, since they not family orientated, they are college towns. Pismo Beach is great, but more costly than Monterey and Santa Cruz.

I wouldn't suggest Guadulupe or Orcutt either, since the gang problem in that area has grown to be prety bad.

If you don't mind being too far from the beach, Atascadero is a half hour drive to the beach and relatively good cost of living.

lol! Guadalupe is a quiet town, gangs? I haven't seen any! Especially if you land a place at Point Sal Dunes. Not too many things to do with the fam but you have Pismo not too far away.
Orcutt has gangs? Bah!

Originally Posted by bhcompy

Seal Beach CA

you can search for Seal Beach in the Los Angeles and Orange County forums to find out details

Originally Posted by the city

There aren't any gangs in Orcutt. But Guadalupe and Santa Maria do have gangs. And all the schools are bad-Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria High School, Righetti, and even their private school St. Joseph is over crowded. All the public schools have over 2,500 kids. Until they build a new school, I would never raise my kids there.

My nephew attends St. Joes and it is a wonderful school, crowded? So are most HS in all of Cali.

Originally Posted by bjess

Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz

I agree, I passed through there on my trip to San Fransisco and stayed overnight, very small and quaint.
How about Morro Bay? Pebble Beach? Cambria?

[thomasw98]

Originally Posted by the city

There aren't any gangs in Orcutt. But Guadalupe and Santa Maria do have gangs. And all the schools are bad-Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria High School, Righetti, and even their private school St. Joseph is over crowded. All the public schools have over 2,500 kids. Until they build a new school, I would never raise my kids there.

The schools in Orcutt are all very well rated according to this official source:

California School Performance Maps

[thomasw98]

Originally Posted by nevergoingback

...Good Luck In California, It treated me good!!!

Was that comment on the education system in Orcutt supposed to be ironic?