Please tell me which is the best area to live (Fresno: apartments, crime rate)

[Ben 01609]

I am a pharmacist moving to fresno ca from boston and will like to which of this areas will be most suitable to live in.
South Visalia / Tulare, central Clovis / Fresno or North Madera/ Merced.

Thanks.

[Adriatica]

I'd vote for the Fresno/Clovis area. Do you have kids? Are schools a factor? Are you single? Outdoorsy? Where is your work?

[Mr Floyd]

Ben 01609 originally said:

I am a pharmacist moving to fresno ca from boston and will like to which of this areas will be most suitable to live in.
South Visalia / Tulare, central Clovis / Fresno or North Madera/ Merced.

Thanks. [End Quote]

It will likely be culture shock from Beantown to Central CA. Regardless, I personally like Visalia. Home of the Onion (or was it garlic?) Festival. Gateway to the Western Sierras. Fresno is larger so service opportunities are probably greater but...

[Ben 01609]

Thanks for replying and i relly appreciate it.

No kids, school is not a factor for now. I will be coming down to California with my fiancee. I am mostly concerned about cost of living, crime, and weather situations. My job will be in fresno and there is room for change if i need one.

More information about fresno/ clovis will be highly appreciated.

thanks

[Adriatica]

I'd recommend Fresno's River Park area (zip 93720). Near lots of shops, restaurants, movies, trails, gyms, parks, and Highway 41. Definitely a good part of town as far as crime is concerned. If you're looking at apartments, there are some good ones on Nees Avenue between Blackstone and Palm and some nicer upscale complexes near the intersection of Friant and Fort Washington. There are lots of other good complexes scattered around the area, too. If you're buying there are a lot of houses to choose from in that zip.

Clovis is another good option and is a very safe community. There are some nice newer complexes off of Highway 168 (zip 93611 or 93612). Lots of amenities in Clovis, too. But I'd rank the River park area of Fresno a little above Clovis. Clovis is very family-oriented.

I think that coming from Boston, the cost of living should be manageable. You can always run a cost of living calculator on the 2 areas to see how they compare.

Weather: Fresno is very hot (a dry heat) in the summer and cool and foggy in the winter. Spring and fall are great.

[FresnoFacts]

You'll find Fresno more midwestern in feel than an east coast or west coast city. But you are also only a few hours to the coast or Sierras.

Although people give Fresno a reputation for crime, it actually is safer than people believe. The crime rate is comparable or slightly lower than Omaha, Sacramento, and others that are a similiar size. Fresno has bad neighborhoods but overall is not crime ridden.

You can expect about 35 days a year with temps over 100 degrees and about 35 days a year with very thick fog. Rain averages about 11 inches per year (winter/spring is the rainy season). We only see a light dusting (it barely sticks) of snow on one day every 5 to 10 years. (You'll have to go into the mountains if you miss snow).

For what it is worth professionally, UCSF has Pharm.D students doing their rotation in Fresno. There is also a local pharmacy school currently in organization, some of the area professionals have been helping to get it off the ground.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by Ben 01609

I am a pharmacist moving to fresno ca from boston and will like to which of this areas will be most suitable to live in.
South Visalia / Tulare, central Clovis / Fresno or North Madera/ Merced.

Thanks.

I don't know much about Visalia or Tulare, but I'd put them in this order: 1)Clovis/Fresno 2) Visalia 3) Merced 4)Tulare 5) Madera. If you are working in Fresno, just live in Fresno or Clovis. I see no point in driving up and down highway 99 every day.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by Ben 01609

Thanks for replying and i relly appreciate it.

No kids, school is not a factor for now. I will be coming down to California with my fiancee. I am mostly concerned about cost of living, crime, and weather situations. My job will be in fresno and there is room for change if i need one.

More information about fresno/ clovis will be highly appreciated.

thanks

My favorite area of Fresno is Woodward Park/River Park. If you like older homes with more character, try Old Fig Garden, Old Fresno High, or the Tower District. If you want more of a small town feel, try Clovis.