Central Cali - Best Cities - Which ones do you prefer?? (Fresno: for rent, day care)

[Shellybee]

Hello,
My family is looking to relocate to Central California. I have been looking at all the many posts but I am unable to "narrow down" to a particular city without first knowing which cities are the most popular.

We have a 6-year old and a 15-month old and looking for a city that is good to rasie children. We are also looking for a city that has rather decent schools.

I understand there are some cities with drugs, gangs and prisons. So basically, which cities should we avoid like a "bill collector" and which cities are safe, cultural, decent schools, stores-shops, affordable housing?

We are currently in Northern California and are looking to relocate to Central California. I understand the air quality isn't the best in Central California....are there "any cities" where breathing is possible???

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Shellybee

Hello,
My family is looking to relocate to Central California.
We are currently in Northern California and are looking to relocate to Central California.

Why do you want to move to Central California?
What line of work are you (two) in?
What is your budget?

[Shellybee]

Hello,

Thank you for responding.....
My husband is in Judgment Recovery and I run a stay at home Day Care.
Our budget for "housing" is around $1500 a month, this does not include utilities, food, incidentals, etc. But as for RENT goes, we want to stay around or below $1500 per month until we decide to buy a home.

So, being around school aged children "elementary" would be nice to further support my in-home daycare. Also, this also corresponds to the need for safe environment, no gangs, drugs and prisons. I don't know if this pretty much "wipes out" all of Central California all together....but I thought I ask just in case.

So, are there any cities in Central California "realistically" that can meet those standards?

[the city]

my top 2: San Luis Obispo and Fresno
others: Salinas, Santa Maria, Paso Robles, Monterey, Orcutt, Carmel, Pismo Beach, Tulare, Delano

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Shellybee

We have a 6-year old and a 15-month old...

...as for RENT goes, we want to stay around or below $1500 per month until we decide to buy a home.

So, being around school aged children "elementary" would be nice to further support my in-home daycare.

You need a home to support two adults and two children and you want to run a daycare in it and you want to do this for $1500?

[Kibbiekat]

Originally Posted by Charles

You need a home to support two adults and two children and you want to run a daycare in it and you want to do this for $1500?

Possible if they have a down payment and are buying. Renting? I don't know. I also know you need permits from the City/County to run a day care. I don't know how many hoops there are to jump through, or how much it costs to get established. It might not be worth it if they are renting short term.

[AlwaysSmiling]

Please don't call it Cali.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to rent anything on the Central Coast for that AND include a day car in the home.

[mono#9]

I think you might be able to do it in Visalia--which is a very nice town--or any of the other towns nearby such as Exeter, Tulare, Hanford. The air quality is not the best, but it's not much different from LA where millions of people seem to manage okay.
If you insist on cleaner air, you'll need to look toward the coast--might try Santa Maria.

[FresnoFacts]

Either Clovis or Fresno fits your criteria.

Wherever you choose in the Central Valley, check out the neighborhood school before you rent/buy. There can be a wide variation in schools in the same school district.

And yeah I agree with AlwaysSmiling, don't use "Cali". It's like using "Frisco". It may seem cool but a lot of us don't use it and laugh at those who do.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSmiling

Please don't call it Cali.

Who cares?