Moving to Redding to Attend Simpson University (Shasta Lake: for rent, crime)

[bkafflen]

I am thinking about moving to Redding to attend school at Simpson University. My wife and 4 small children (under age 5!) know NOTHING about the town or area. Where would be a good place to start looking for a house near the school that is close to Simpson, neighborly, and has a good elementary school? Are there areas of town that are more industrial/residential/crime areas? If you had to describe the town's climate, personality, and positives/negatives to raise a famil, how would you do it? What are some of Redding's positives/negatives in general? Thanks to all who respond....I'd love to get a good discussion going. Any discussion about the university is also appreciated. Thanks!




-Brandon K.-

Spokane, WA

[kettlepot]

In no coherent order:

Coming from Spokane the summer heat probably won't faze you. That's a plus.

Generally, speaking Redding has always been a good city to raise a family up to about age 18 and then all of your children will leave the area.

The easiest way to judge a neighborhood in Redding is by the condition of the landscaping. Where people put money and effort into their landscaping you know the area is generally good.

There is the school rating map on this website. It's pretty indicative for the elementary schools, however as the catchment areas expand as you get into the later grades it depends more on who are your children's teachers and friends.

Unemployment is high and wages are low.

Redding is sprawlville.

South Redding just south of downtown is more of a crime area. The west side of the river generally carries more status than the east side, but if you go far enough east there are plenty of family friendly suburban and rural areas.

North of Redding, Shasta Lake City, has always been more of a blue collar area. SLC was founded by people working on the dam, and still maintains a working class vibe.

[notmeofficer]

Brandon...
Actually you could look at some of the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to Simpson.. they range from luxury new tract homes to old homes on acreage... I would google Simpson.. use it as your center and start looking from there... its all an easy commute to downtown Redding... and easy to food shopping etc right on 299 (which goes right past Simpson).. where there is Raleys for food and Shopko etc about about 3 miles to the west

Any home next to Shasta College would also be very close to Simpson.. SC is only a mile or so from Simpson.. finding housing close should not be difficult

Welcome to Redding.. Simpson has a beautiful campus (for Redding)

It will be hot for you.. you will miss the rain and "greeness".. it really burns out here (literally) in the summer.. and we WILL have a drought this summer.. Lake Shasta is already down 75 feet and we never made up the snow pack.... that is going to be a bummer for us all as it will be a bad fire season

[bkafflen]

What are your overall likes/dislikes of the town? Is it a friendly community? What are the major yearly events that bring everyone together? Are there some common meeting places? A cafe or store, a local hangout, etc.?

FWIW, Spokane in eastern WA has all four seasons. We are a dry, hot summer, with temps normally getting into the mid 90s for a few weeks. We get a lot of snow in the winter and stormy springs with a mild fall.
My impression of Reddding is dry and desert-like. Is that accurate? What is the vegetation like?

As for renting a place, does anyone have a local realtor they'd recommend or not based on past experiences? We need to stay at $1000/mo. or less with at least 3+ bedrooms. Our house here in Spokane is only 900 sq ft with a similiar-sized partial basement, and we're only going to be there for 2-3 years. What do you recommend?

Thanks all...

-Brandon K.-

[notmeofficer]

Brandon..

All of us(locals) have commented extensively about Redding on this site.. may I ask you to use the search feature and put Redding in.. you will find a bunch of posts...
Yes I know a great Realtor.. Ill pm you with his info.. if he cant help you he will get you to the right person who can