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Unread 03-23-2009, 12:02 PM
 
Location: Southeast Idaho
3,722 posts, read 8,313,116 times
Reputation: 1590
Quote:
Originally Posted by dominus View Post
Okay these seem to be the 3 most disliked big cities in CA, but which one do you think is best to live in overall, taking into account cost of living, surrounding suburbs, things to do, quality, etc.
I used to live in Fresno and spent a fair amount of time in both Bakersfield and Stockton, having said that I'd have to suggest Fresno. Due to location, entertainment, shopping, housing (when compared to coastal cities) and crime rate which is dropping.
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Unread 03-23-2009, 05:32 PM
 
Location: San Diego, CA
4,884 posts, read 3,679,126 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dominus View Post
Okay these seem to be the 3 most disliked big cities in CA, but which one do you think is best to live in overall, taking into account cost of living, surrounding suburbs, things to do, quality, etc.
Where's the none of the above option?

OK seriously, Fresno is a horrible, horrible crap hole with sky high unemployment and crime so it is out. Bakersfield is pretty much an unattractive desert town so it's out, so that leaves only Stockton. Which, as bad as Stockton is, it is still the best option out of those three.
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Unread 03-23-2009, 06:40 PM
 
1,688 posts, read 2,853,498 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oerdin View Post
Where's the none of the above option?

OK seriously, Fresno is a horrible, horrible crap hole with sky high unemployment and crime so it is out. Bakersfield is pretty much an unattractive desert town so it's out, so that leaves only Stockton. Which, as bad as Stockton is, it is still the best option out of those three.
LOL, Uhmm, Fresno has a lower crime than Sacramento, San Francisco, Portland, Denver, Stockton and others. Those cities must really be bad in your mind.
http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/CityCrime2008_Rank.pdf

Unemployment in Fresno is high, but other areas are even worse. Fresno's rate is higher than the state level but the current unemployment rate is still lower than the high in Fresno in the 1990s. Plus there are areas that are hurting very bad compared to Fresno.
February 2009 unemployment
Bakersfield 10.3%
CALIFORNIA 10.5%
Long Beach 12.1%
South Lake Tahoe 14.6%
Modesto 14.6%
City of Fresno 15.4%
Stockton 19%
City of Merced 19.7%
Salinas 22.3%
Watsonville 26.6%
And many even worse
City Labor Force-Unemploy Rate, California LaborMarketInfo
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Unread 09-15-2009, 02:19 AM
 
Location: Fresno (The No)
10 posts, read 13,018 times
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that's an easy one! ima say Fresno!
cuz i just cant get enough of this town!
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Unread 09-15-2009, 06:32 AM
 
Location: United States
2,497 posts, read 2,987,609 times
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What I gather from all your replies makes me think that even the worst cities in CA are still less boring than the better cities here in the midwest. Theater? Ballet? Art museums? Concerts? No way, try Walmart....another Walmart....7-11....Industrial factories, Nascar freaks, and cornfields. I actually considered Fresno for awhile because after relentless online research I found it to be much safer and cleaner than the other 2 you listed. I also looked in Lancaster, but decided against it. Fresno seems cool.
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Unread 09-15-2009, 11:28 AM
 
2,296 posts, read 1,986,676 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jc76 View Post
What I gather from all your replies makes me think that even the worst cities in CA are still less boring than the better cities here in the midwest. Theater? Ballet? Art museums? Concerts? No way, try Walmart....another Walmart....7-11....Industrial factories, Nascar freaks, and cornfields. I actually considered Fresno for awhile because after relentless online research I found it to be much safer and cleaner than the other 2 you listed. I also looked in Lancaster, but decided against it. Fresno seems cool.
I would have to agree with this. Californians are spoiled.
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Unread 09-22-2009, 01:54 AM
 
29 posts, read 30,187 times
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This is not hard. . . . Fresno!You'll have everything you'll need without the crazy commutes. Stockton=Bay Area, Bakersfield=Los Angeles
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Unread 11-29-2009, 11:03 AM
 
31 posts, read 28,930 times
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How do rental prices (apartments/duplexes) compare between Fresno and Sacramento? Is Sacramento a better place to live? I'm looking at the following cities to move to in early 2010:

Santa Cruz
San Jose / Santa Clara
Fresno
Modesto
Stockton
Sacramento
Santa Rosa
Berkeley
Oakland

Any recommendations for a single, professional, highly sophisticated/educated female (age 40)?

Could really use the advice of people who know the area before I make a trip and waste a lot of time and money on places that are unsafe or CA cow towns.

Thanks very much!!
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Unread 11-29-2009, 01:27 PM
 
1,688 posts, read 2,853,498 times
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Sacramento will be more urban feeling than Fresno. But rental prices will be lower in Fresno.

But you have a wide ranging list there and each city will have pros and cons.

I think the first question will be employment or support for yourself.

I don't expect unemployment in any of those cities to fall significantly until late 2010 with some not improving until 2011. You can see the most recent city unemployment rates at this California state spreadsheet.
http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/allsubs.xls

I like Sac, but the personal concern I have about Sacramento right now is there are more state government cuts coming. I don't know how much that will hurt the Sacramento region economy, but it will see an impact.

Crime? There are good and bad parts to all of those cities on your list so do your neighborhood research. And the suburbs will be safer than the actual city (i.e. Roseville is safer than Sacramento).

But the safest within the actual city limits on that list are probably Santa Cruz, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Fresno. I posted recent crime ratings at this thread (Santa Cruz was the only one you listed too small to be ranked):
California Cities Ranked by 2008 Per Capita Crime

Fresno, Sacramento, Modesto, etc. will have air quality issues. Not as bad as Southern California but still higher than the cities you listed along the coast.

Personally, I'd probably reduce your list down to these and continue doing research about employment in your job field and housing:
San Jose
Sacramento
Santa Rosa
Santa Cruz
Fresno
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Unread 11-29-2009, 01:27 PM
 
1,073 posts, read 913,527 times
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I live in maybe the only central valley city I could live in, Turlock. That applies to anywhere from above Sacramento to Bakersfield. Of course the central valley and Stockton,Fresno and Bakersfield are going to get a bad rap. They're some of the biggest cities in the central valley and they're stuck in between the two greatest areas in the United States, the Seirras to the east, and everything else you already know about to the west. They just can't compare. That being said, here's my opinion:

Fresno is probably your best choice, stay away from certain parts of town, many parts are overrun by gangs. There are some great parts of Fresno though.

Bakersfield would be a good choice, just because it's closest to LA, if that's your thing. Other than that, when your in Bakersfield, you wouldn't know if you were in California or the Midwest.

Stay away from Stockton, that's all i'm saying lol.
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