What do you think of Lompoc California? (Los Angeles, Bakersfield: renting, condo)

[mistermoose]

I lived in this area for 15+ years, but moved in the late eighties. I went to elementary school on VAFB and the middle school. I graduated from Cabrillo High School. I have gone back several times with my wife and son to go to Solvang and to see my old hometown. I am amazed how run down the city looks and how it has changed to little Mexico. My wife is Mexican and she made comments on how it looks. Besides the immigrant factor, the town has seen its better days. Lompoc use to be a lot nicer town. We never had the gang problems that plague the city now. The LA gangs have infiltrated this city.

The price of houses have gone up dramatically, but it is not worth these prices. I have a 5 year old and I would never think about moving there and raising my son. I walked around my old high school and it is run down. We walked around town and there are some scary people in this town. It is a shame that this place has gone to the dumps.
Besides the wind, the fog is the killer. Growing up, I hated the wind and fog. My parents use to have to bundle up to watch me play baseball. You never see the fireworks on the 4th of July because of the fog.

[kimyart]

Well, after another trip to Lompoc, I decided against it. I don't mind mexican or black people. But the all trash in peoples yards and I swear I didn't talk to anybody that had teeth. I looked at a few places and headed for Buellton. I eventually found a place in Solvang. It was a sunny day and then we took the 154 back to santa barbara. We were in the clouds at the top of the mountain there and came out the other end in the middle of a downpour ! That must be one big mountain !

[Coolhand68]

I lived in Lompoc from 1995 - 2004, and I watched the town go through a few changes in those 8 years I spent there. When I first got there the average 3 Bed 2 bath home was about $125K...now it's around $350 and up. Gangs have moved in and the schools suffer the most for it. It's not a dangerous place to walk the streets, but I would have reservations about putting my kids in the schools there.

The beaches are strictly for walking, fishing or beachcombing with the occasional surfer. The current is very dangerous and the water is freezing. After 12:00 noon, the wind kicks in and blows pretty hard in Lompoc until early evening. The area is great for hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking etc.

Restaurants and nightlife are limited as is any city of that size, but you're a 30 - 45 minute drive from Buellton (AJ Spurs, Hitching Post), Santa Ynez (Chumash Casino), Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo (Margie's Diner), Pismo Beach etc. Plenty of good eats a short drive away.

I got there from NYC, so to me the crime wasn't so bad in Lompoc, you're outlook will depend on where you are coming from. Most of the gang related crime was isolated among the gangs and wannabe's. The limited bar scene there is rough though. I worked in the Red Fox for several years and seen my fair share of fights. I was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base. I loved the weather there, it was never humid or too hot. Yes, there's thick fog especially in summer, but it didn't bother me. If you go, skip Fourbucks and visit the South Side Coffee Shop on H street for the best coffee. I love the California Coast and I'm seriously contemplating moving back there. I'm now stationed in Massachusetts just outside Boston. This is another nice but very pricey area.

Some other towns to consider are Vandenberg Village (halfway between the air base and Lompoc), Orcutt, Los Alamos and Nipomo. Avoid Guadalupe at all costs!

[marymacg]

We moved from Lompoc 10 yrs ago (lived there 5 yrs) because of all the info that was coming out about the high rates of asthma there. Asthma cases were off the charts then, I do not know if it's as bad now. I'm talking downtown Lompoc, which comprises the largest land area & most of the people. Up in Vandenberg Village (close to the base) it's much nicer & prob healthier & less crime.
When we lived there, the Grefco smokestack was spewing 24/7. It has since shut down & Home Depot was built on the site.
There was much controversy about the aerial pesticide spraying then too.
Downtown Lompoc is a valley surrounded by hills. The fog comes in & sits on top of the hills basically trapping all the cr--in the air. That is my theory anyway about why so many people were sick in that town. I know some people who love living in Lompoc; I did too until I became suspicious hearing all the health complaints from residents. It's also very windy. Stick to Vandenberg Village if you decide on Lompoc...it has the better schools too.

[MVP]

I think some people are being very passive in not seeing what Lompoc, and Santa Maria for that matter is becoming. I have lived here and in Santa Barbara most my life. I would choose to live in Lompoc over Santa Barbara but choose neither if I could afford to get out. This is very hard though seeing that my pay is never enough to actually save any money.

If you have to live in this area you definitely should pick living in the Vandenburg Village area instead. The schools are better by far. I had my son transfer to the High school there to keep him from being in Lompocs High school.

The immigration problem is the most apparent change in both Santa Maria, and Lompoc. It is not because they are moving here but the new trend for most is to live off the state and because of this the towns are going broke. They raise the price of everything including power, water, and gas to compensate for the children born in the US by Illegal aliens that are born to be dependants of the state. Over 70% of the school district lunches are given away free because of the welfare status of the parents.

The middle schools in Lompoc was one of the only schools that did not come close to the state requirements, That is also why I chose to have both my children go to the Vandenburg middle school.

Now there is much worse places to live even around this area. Guadalupe is perfect example of where not to live, but the town is very rapidly growing down hill because of the type of people filling in. This has been very dominating over the last ten years and getting worse in the last 3 or so.

I used to like Lompoc because it was quit, and there was no major crimes all through my own child hood but that is changing very quickly, and Santa Maria is ten time worse in my opinion. Orcutt is in the middle so it is only time (very short) before it is no better.

Just to clarify I am also Spanish mixed, and so is my wife, and this has nothing to do with prejudice it has everything to do with economics’, and the way some people are raised to treat others.

To top it off the good welfare scammers are driving SUV’s and will run you off the road and give you a dirty look at the same time, while talking on their cell phones. The welfare department is finally addressing the fact that most the people that are living in the section 8 housing all have new cars and not cheap one either.


Just one mans opinion, well most people I knows opinions also.

[missusparsons]

Originally Posted by kimyart

Well, after another trip to Lompoc, I decided against it. I don't mind mexican or black people. But the all trash in peoples yards and I swear I didn't talk to anybody that had teeth.

This made me chuckle.
I had to live around the area for 3 years while stationed at Vandenberg AFB. But I never ever wanted to live in Lompoc -- the 'local' vibe and all that gloomy fog is enough to make you jump off a bridge.

I know you've already mentioned Solvang, but if you haven't settled yet -- I would recommend Orcutt (its a bit less expensive). I lived in Old Town -- small but artsy/quirky, and close to everything

Sometimes I still dream about Orcutt burgers....

[Greenchili]

Originally Posted by missusparsons

This made me chuckle.
I had to live around the area for 3 years while stationed at Vandenberg AFB. But I never ever wanted to live in Lompoc -- the 'local' vibe and all that gloomy fog is enough to make you jump off a bridge.

I know you've already mentioned Solvang, but if you haven't settled yet -- I would recommend Orcutt (its a bit less expensive). I lived in Old Town -- small but artsy/quirky, and close to everything

Sometimes I still dream about Orcutt burgers....

Got a kick out of both replies!!! Im in Lompoc(trying to move out ASAP)
and as I type this, its gloomy and yucky out. Wheres that bridge........

Greenchili

[fromoakhill]

I felt I needed to respond to all of the negativity regarding Lompoc. I see Lompoc as one of the last affordable coastal towns in southern California. Yes, it is cold and foggy at times, but so is San Francisco, Monterey, Pismo Beach, and Ventura. There is nothing different about that.

The real difference is that Lompoc is a real American working man's town. There is no old money here, every other car is not a BMW, and there aren't a lot of Bohemian cafes, restaurants, bars, etc. There is a Wal-Mart, a Mervyns, all the fast-food restaurants you see in 100 other towns, and your other run of the mill big box stores. If you are all about shopping and night life, then Lompoc is definitely not for you. If you enjoy the outdoors, fresh coastal air, the arts, and sunshine, then you cannot beat it:

You have some of the best surf-fishing around and likely will have the beach to yourself. Jalama Beach boasts some of the best surfing, windsurfing, and fishing around, usually packed full of people from LA trying to escape that mess. Just down the coast from there you have about seven public beaches just off the 101 freeway (Gaviota, Refugio, El Capitan, Tajiguas, and a couple of no namers), where you can learn to surf, scuba dive, kayak, bike, and fish. You are about 1 hour from Lake Lopez, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Lake Cachuma, and Los Padres National Forest.

If you take some time to look, you will find a multitude of beautiful and untouched areas where you can find yourself and pursue several hobbies. Oh, and I must mention there is good golf in Lompoc. The Village Country Club is a beautiful retirement community surrounding a private golf course, and there is the public La Purisma course nearby (once host to the LPGA tour). If you are into biking you will find miles and miles of uncrowded roads to ride on, winding through ancient oaks and fields of gold. The Solvang Century ride goes through Lompoc, as well as the SF AIDS ride. Mountain biking can be pursued if you can handle a little sand, otherwise you will need to drive a little bit towards the Santa Barbara mountains or up towards San Luis Obispo. If you have access to the air force base, there is another golf course there, miles of off-road vehicle areas, hiking trails, and pristine beach coastline.

If you absolutely need culture, than you will need to drive 1/2 hour to Solvang, Santa Ynez wine country, Chumash Casino, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Lompoc is changing in this regard, however, with a couple of new coffee shops and upscale restaurants. People that work in Santa Barbara but cannot afford Santa Barbara are moving to Lompoc and driving home prices up. There are new housing developments that most native Lompocans cannot afford. Lompoc is becoming more of a retirement destination (eg Village Country Club), with its mild climate and simple living. So get it while you can. Lompoc is changing, and the state of mind is changing. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of poor in Lompoc, and a substantial amount of crime in some areas. But contrary to what others are saying, it is spotty and is the exception not the rule. The majority of the town is very safe. I would have to agree that the Village enjoys better weather (often sunny when Lompoc is foggy), better air (not downwind of agriculture), and better schools (Cabrillo is a distinguished school with an Ag department and their own aquarium!!). Lompoc schools aren’t the best just because of the poverty and lack of resources the average kid has in Lompoc compared to the Village. All of the wealthy business owners, doctors, etc. tend to live in the Village. Many of the kids in Lompoc are first generation Americans that do not have the same resources as multiple generation Americans have. The Village schools also get all of the air force base kids who tend to be more structured and focused. I should mention that there is a great Junior College in Lompoc called Alan Hancock College. I went there for a semester before moving on to a four-year college.

After living in the Bay Area for several years, and now living in Ventura, CA, I enjoy returning to Lompoc to visit my folks. I usually ride my bike to the mission and ride around the lower and upper track. I enjoy the fresh air and the simplicity of daily living. You will not get stuck in traffic in Lompoc, you will not wait more than 2 minutes at the check-out line, you will begin to recognize people and have friendly chats, you can actually get a lot done in one day because it is easy to get around.

I used to get asked from people from LA or the Bay Area, "What do people do in this little town?" It is funny how people ask this, but then every weekend people from LA pack there cars up and where do they go?......to the Central Coast to get away from the rat race, breathe some fresh air, swim in clean water, take pristine hikes, explore the wine country, gamble at Chumash, etc. So I ask, what is there to do in LA.....shop? Why do they all come up here on the weekends if there is nothing to do?

[Greenchili]

Ehh, No. Not to me, and the Villiage is overated and overpriced. The weather
is better out there tho. I dont consider almost $500.000 reasonable for a
home. I guess Im just sick of CA and the super high prices for properties here.
Cant wait to leave.


Greenchili

[westmost]

I moved to Lompoc from Santa Barbara after a divorce, to save money. Its a nice small town with a lot of friendly natives who have been here for generations. A lot of our friends would rather not say too much nice about Lompoc because then the rest of S.B. will start showing up. This is like Oregon where they don't want Californians moving in anymore and ruining it for them. Prices of homes here are still reasonable for southern or central Cal.
The town has a small downtown section with the normal business flow but there are few chain stores downtown. The bigbox and chains are on the outskirts of town in the plazas. There are some nice eating places in Old Town Lompoc; Sissies for lunch, Blacksmith for steaks, Saletti's and even a teashop, Penelopes where you can meet your girlfriend for tea. The only problem is that most small restaurants are now mexican food places so it's harder to find variety. The weather is always mentioned for Lompoc because of the cold marine layer that comes in in the evening and the wind that blows from the ocean 10 miles down the valley. This makes for a very temperate climate, rarely hot or humid but more likely cool evenings and mornings and lots of sunshine all year round. The nicest month is December. The nicest street to wander down is South H Street where the biggest stand of Italian Pine trees in the world are growing, most of them 70-80 years old and BIG. The library is great, the schools I hear are only fair but we know nice kids who go to Cabrillo in V.V.
There are a lot of hotel/motels in town, I suspect a lot of visitors are here to see friends/family doing time in the federal pen outside of town. The AF base also draws a lot of visitors when they launch rockets and satellites.