How about Bakersfield livability? (Los Angeles, San Jose: home, neighborhood, school districts)

[Dad01]

Shafter California United States 17231 NW
Buttonwillow California United States 1766 NW
Mcfarland California United States 12890 NE
Mc Farland California United States 8129 NE

Wasco California United States 25930 NW
Delano California United States 53819 NW
Richgrove California United States 2326 NE

Thanks ^^^ are you familiar with any of the above

[DutchessCottonPuff]

Originally Posted by direstraights

Ok, so the one issue i now worry about is the air pollution from the oil fields. Can anyone tell me how far away you have to get from them to not be affected much oil at all? I found a pretty nice house but it was very close to the oil fields which tells me thats probably why the price was right for what it is.

I live off of Kern Canyon Rd still in Bakersfield proper and really like it . My taxes are only 328 also which helps . My house is not new but is still pretty and very solid and I don't get any oilfield pollution at all .
Some people might talk bad about the eats side but I like it . My youngest lives in West Hollywood and it only takes me 1 hour and 20 minutes to go see her or for her to come see me . My horses stay st a stable off Panorama drive right above the oilfields and I still don't have any issues , I love to be there , its right on the river .
Having said that there are many nice places in Bakersfield I would live if I had to move somehow .
I just recently came from Seattle and I like it really well . I lived in LA years ago but don't have the cash to live where I would like to there now. I sure do here . The groceries are inexpensive too .

[HB2HSV]

What do you think of Visalia CA ?

I've heard of Visalia because an ex-coworker was thinking moving up there. Visalia has good schools and apparently closer to city-convenience than Tehachapi. But it's a 80 mile commute, each way, it will eat away inside of you every day.

Tehachapi is only a 40 minute drive from Bakersfield. Small townish, clean air at higher altitude.

[JB316]

I just visited Visalia for the first time, and I have to say I came away impressed. We only stayed a couple of hours, but what they have going on with their downtown is what Bakersfield wishes it could accomplish. I also noticed almost no homeless or trash in the area, perhaps it was because of the cooler weather, but it was a noticeable difference. Being right in the middle, if you don't mind commuting, you could work in either Fresno or Bakersfield and live there. Being that NAS Lemoore is only about 35 minutes to the west, I'm guessing a lot of sailors/fed workers probably commute from Visalia as well.

[Dad01]

I got offered a reasonably decent job in Bakersfield
Everything I've read about the city unfortunately is far from flattering.esp regarding crime and schools
Is there a place I can live close to Bakersfield which has good schools and low crime? I'm willing to drive an hour each way if needed
Thanks

[Bill the Butcher]

Originally Posted by Dad01

I got offered a reasonably decent job in Bakersfield
Everything I've read about the city unfortunately is far from flattering.esp regarding crime and schools
Is there a place I can live close to Bakersfield which has good schools and low crime? I'm willing to drive an hour each way if needed
Thanks

There are plenty of neighborhoods within Bakersfield that are safe and zoned for good schools. Especially on the West Side. With a decent job offer I would assume you will have no problem renting or buying a home in these areas. Basically anything West of Old River Rd/Calloway Rd is going to have next to zero crime issues and zoned for good schools. There are other nice pockets too but I would start any search west of those roads.

If you are able and willing to commute Tehachapi has to be at the top of your list.

[Dad01]

Ok thanks
I always figured because people tend to exaggerate stuff when they write articles whether praising or criticizing any city

Will the cost of a 4 bed 2 bath or similar house be like 500k or less in those nicer neighborhoods? As in bay area it's like in millions

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Dad01

I got offered a reasonably decent job in Bakersfield
Everything I've read about the city unfortunately is far from flattering.

Many on this thread who appear to enjoy Bakersfield: https://www.city-data.com/forum/cali...kersfield.html

[Futuremauian]

Bakersfield's biggest drawback is poor air quality. It is always in the top 3 with Los Angeles and Houston. Pollution from the Bay Area drifts down and lingers over the city. Farming operations stir up a huge amount of particulate matter (dust), allergens, and Valley Fever spores. Oil production is a relatively small factor.

Hot summers, mild winters, and a reasonably good location. High murder rate is typically gang-related since the city is located at the meeting point between Northern and Southern gangs. You can live there a long time and never actually witness this as long as you stay out of the wrong areas. (Mostly Central and East Bakersfield.) In the better neighborhoods schools are highly rated, and the cost of living is such that you can live in a good area for a relatively low price compared to the rest of California.

I'm amazed that someone suggested Stockton. Extremely high crime and poor city services after a massive city bankruptcy. I would choose Sacramento over Bakersfield but not Fresno or most other Valley towns.
Tehachapi would be nice if you don't have to commute daily. Some mornings there is fog.

If I were moving to Bakersfield I would look at the Northwest or Southwest areas. Cal-state University Bakersfield is located in the Southwest. Bakersfield also has an abundance of shopping and restaurants, both chain and independent.

[Moddedintegra56]

Fresno is better than Bakersfield. Fresno is the 5th biggest city in CA, 2 hours from SJ, has more amenities, more opportunities, better schools, etc.

The order would be:

Sacramento
Fresno
Bakersfield
all other central valley, san joaquin valley BIG cities after

Problem with sacramento is its more expensive than fresno with median home price nearly $100K more than fresno.

While bako and fresno are similar and with that said Fresno is superior. Bakersfield's main advantage is that LA is closer.

As for air quality, the entire state is pretty bad, but:
https://www.lung.org/local-content/c...t-polluted.pdf

toss a coin, most valley cities are always at the top but some surprises are LA, bay area is also listed and if not higher in some categories