Want to move to cooler part of CA (Fresno, Sacramento: find a job, minimum wage)

[delowise]

Hi!

My husband and I are thinking of moving to northern CA to escape the hot summers of central CA. We are a bit nervous about the snow (neither of us has ever lived where it snows before), but are excited about a change.

We are looking for suggestions on cities that would be good to move to. Neither of us is currently employed, so finding a job would be a priority. We also have a dog, so would need somewhere that pets aren't a problem!

Let us know what you think of your city! Thanks for your help!

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by delowise

Hi!

My husband and I are thinking of moving to northern CA to escape the hot summers of central CA. We are a bit nervous about the snow (neither of us has ever lived where it snows before), but are excited about a change.

We are looking for suggestions on cities that would be good to move to. Neither of us is currently employed, so finding a job would be a priority. We also have a dog, so would need somewhere that pets aren't a problem!

Let us know what you think of your city! Thanks for your help!

I would suggest you first do some research on the climatology of northern California. Neither snow nor cool summers are an inherent feature of "northern California," it depends on exactly where you're looking. The West Coast all the way up to the Canadian border and beyond is free of winter snow. The floor of the northern Sac Valley might see a dusting of snow once every 10 years or so. Redding can have high temperatures well over 110 degrees for three or four months. There are lots of "northern Californias."

P.S. If neither of you is currently employed, do yourselves a favor and forget about climate preferences and discretional lifestyle choices for the moment. Go where employment prospects are good for the careers you are trained in. If you're thinking about moving, this is a good time to move to a state with single-digit unemployment and basic government solvency for the immediate future.

[kettlepot]

There are no jobs north of Sacramento. I believe every county north of there has unemployment levels well in excess of 10%. As an example, Shasta County is currently at 16% or 17% unemployment. Pay typically hugs close to the minimum wage. This area is more a place to where people go to retire, not a place where people move to make their fortunes and careers.

[Curmudgeon]

You might want to consider the Eureka area. It's coastal and cooler but it's also rather depressed due to the cut-backs in the lumber industry. If the two of you can subsist on two minimum wage jobs to start, it might be a possibility.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by delowise

We are looking for suggestions on cities that would be good to move to. Neither of us is currently employed, so finding a job would be a priority. We also have a dog, so would need somewhere that pets aren't a problem!

It might help if you mention what types of work you are qualified for.

Also are you thinking about the coastal regions or the inland regions in Northern California.

I will warn you that unemployment rates in much of Northern California is similiar to the San Joaquin Valley. For example:
Shasta County 15.4% unemployment
Siskiyou County 15.7% unemployment

I wouldn't move until you find a job in an area.

[MtnSurfer]

Yeah,

There are a lot of options, but of course finding a job in your fields are the most important thing.

I can tell you that Monterey and most of the CA coast from Central CA north will have nice cool summers. We actually get fog in the summer in Monterey which keeps things nice and cool (60-70s) while it is triple digits inland. And Santa Cruz on up gets similar weather.

Other than the coast you probably have to go up in altitude and even then it gets warm during the day in the summer. I'm thinking Tahoe, Mariposa, and other Sierra foothill locations. But again somewhere along the coast is really where it is at to stay cool.

Derek

[Jaybee]

Oddly, in interior CA anyway, latitude has less influence on temperature variant than does elevation.

I live just north of Red Bluff-about 40 degrees North latitude, but at only about 400 feet elevation at my home. The summers here in the northern Sacto Valley are brutally hot-I think even hotter than Fresno. To escape the heat, you'll either have to go to the coast or to the mountains. The mountain elevations typically come with snowy winters. The coast comes with the fog-that's why the redwoods and ferns grow there.

I can attest to the lousy economy here as well. I'd suggest "treading water" if you are currently employed, until the economy improves. After that, you might consider some lower elevation mountain communities. Have a look at Grass Valley, Paradise or maybe even Shingletown. The other alternative might be a community near, but not on the coast, like Willets, or Fortuna. Good luck.

[delowise]

Thank you to everyone for your quick responses! We're actually going to look out of state now, since CA seems to be rough all over. Wish us luck! ;o)

[Den Mathias]

Originally Posted by delowise

Thank you to everyone for your quick responses! We're actually going to look out of state now, since CA seems to be rough all over. Wish us luck! ;o)

Luck!
Let us know if you find the perfect spot!