Stockton, Fresno, or Bakersfield? (San Diego, San Jose: houses, neighborhood, theater)

[dominus]

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.

[fakeproblems]

Neither...I grew up in the Central Valley and now live in San Jose the only town that is decent inland is Sacramento and for some that is pushing it.

[Snort]

Strychnine, arsenic, or cyanide. It's your choice! Just kidding!
Fresno.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by dominus

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.

Well their disliked by the people who don't live there anyway, things to do and quality is in the eye of the beholder, not everyone sees it the same way, a good paying job, nice home and easy living may look better to some people than the big city lifestyle.

[Adriatica]

Based on my own biases and opinions, I'd probably rank them:

1. Fresno
2. Bakersfield
3. Stockton

That said, they are often disliked for a lot of silly reasons and by a lot of people who have never even really been to them. Or by young kids who grew up in these cities, just turned 18, and are itching to get out (and frankly still have a lot to learn). There are many people in all 3 of these cities who are HAPPY to live in them, have lived in other places, and still would not want to leave them.

[FresnoFacts]

People want the inland cities to be like the California coast, they are not. The best comparisons are to midwest cities. Think Omaha instead of San Diego or San Jose.

Additionally each of the 3 cities are 100 miles apart so they are very different in culture, employment, lifestyle, etc.

My wife and I both came to Fresno from elsewhere. She tried living in Bakersfield for a while but it didn't fit her preferences. I looked at Bakersfield and decided the same.

For us Fresno works. There is enough regional theater, ballet, opera, symphony, and travelling concerts to fit our daily lives. We both have good jobs, a home in a neighborhood we love, and a good circle of local friends.

We go to the Fresno Art Museum, Fresno Metropolitan Museum, the zoo, sports events, area casinos, and other activities. Kings Canyon is only a 1 hour drive and Yosemite 2 hours for hiking/camping. Sierra Summit is 65 miles away when we want skiing.

But we both also know people who like living in Bakersfield and Stockton. So I think it becomes a personal preference.

[17271]

Stockton wouldn't be bad if it weren't for the crappy people there. It gets the worst from all races, illegal aliens all over the place, gangs, graffiti, no sense of community, and is nauseatingly boring. It has a very claustrophobic feel and doesn't even look like America most of the time. People dislike it, and rightfully so.

[buckeyenative01]

I guess Fresno, if forced to live in one of your choices at gunpoint There's a lot more culture and stuff to do there than most of the other central cities.

Driving past Bakersfield on the 5 nearly caused me to vomit from the smell of slaughterhouses.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

I guess Fresno, if forced to live in one of your choices at gunpoint

LOL, I have a niece who grew up in the Bay Area now living in Phoenix. She used to knock Fresno. But now she wants to move back to California and live in the Central Valley instead of staying in Phoenix. Who would have thought.

[buckeyenative01]

I don't blame her. I'd live in Fresno over Phoenix any day.