Leaving NYC - looking for Northern Cali urban/suburban area with SUN & views (Los Angeles: rent, home)

[melbklyn]

I've lived in & around NYC my whole life (37 years). I now call NYC "my abuser". It changes you. There are TOO MANY PEOPLE!! The weather is impossible for me as I have SAD & need more sun than a sunlamp can offer...so I'm planning my escape!
Portland, OR (SE Hawthorne area) has a good vibe that I like a lot but the weather negates that. Not an option.
Lived in San Fran for a few months - not really into it - need more suburban space & nature.
I am sure there are places in Northern Cali that would be better.
Looking for a temp of 55-75/80 max cooler is better than hotter (as long as the sun is out - i'm fine).
The coast is foggy (it was in San Fran & I've heard it's all over the coast) so inland may be better but maybe 2-3 hours from coast.
Also, would like to be somewhere where 35-55 is average age with good education levels (by NYC standards - a GED is a good education! lol & a progressive community (which I've heard exists in a lot of CA towns.)
Population - smaller city? urban/suburban?
Home prices around 300K - 500K for 3BR would be great but I know CA is expensive!
I would rent for awhile just to be sure so rent amount around $1000 for a 1BR (this is $450 less than the 1BR I am currently living in, it's not even in Manhattan but Brooklyn!).

Thanks to anyone who gets through this giant post! You advice is appreciated!

[Sassberto]

Look at the east bay. I always liked the Oakland hills. Suburban with views, close to the city. You will probably never afford a home in SF bay area on your budget, but you could probably find something older and dumpy for 1k/mo. Figure on spending 75% of NYC rents for a similar property.

Just don't call it "cali", we hate that.

[wburg]

Not too many places have an exclusive temperature range of 35-55 degrees: Sacramento's weather is like that in winter (it rarely, if ever, drops below freezing) but summer weather is 100-110 degrees. Humidity makes a huge difference, and I understand New York humidity is very uncomfortable. Having experienced Chicago summers, 100 degrees in California is more comfortable than 85 degrees in humid Chicago. So ramp up your max temps a bit.

There are not really any places that are both sunny as you want and cold as you want. Sunny weather makes things hot, but generally dryer and less humid.

You might look at Sacramento--it's a city, but a relatively small one by big city standards (around 500,000.) The weather here is hot and dry in summer (with cool evenings due to the Delta breeze), cool and rainy during the winter, spring and fall are pretty gorgeous. However, for some our occasional blasts of 100-110 degree heat is enough to scare many folks away--and people expecting New York style amenities must be willing to dial down their expectations, or make frequent trips to the Bay Area or Los Angeles to get their big-city fix. If you like Portland's vibe, Sacramento's central city and surrounding neighborhoods might be to your liking: historic buildings (mostly residential), lots of trees, and walkable neighborhoods.

[melbklyn]

Thanks Wburg (williamsburg?). NYC amenities not necessary & I will look into Sacramento....but 110, really? How rainy are the winters?

[KarlaT2]

Downtown Sacramento is very nice. I don't live there, but loved the area when we visited last year. It does get hotter as mentioned than your 75-80 max temp. I love Davis too.

[bhcompy]

You're going to have to look inland for sun and those prices, and Sacramento is probably the best you'll get up north. Summer is going to be hot, but you don't have the humidity of the east coast, so it's more bearable.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

You're going to have to look inland for sun and those prices, and Sacramento is probably the best you'll get up north. Summer is going to be hot, but you don't have the humidity of the east coast, so it's more bearable.

I agree with Sacramento and the surrounding area. Summers up to 110 are not that common. It's usually in the 90's to low 100's but with low humidity. You get use to it. It usually rains between Nov to April with breaks that can last many days. Check out towns east of Sacramento (Rocklin, Loomis, El Dorado Hills, etc.) which are at a little higher elevation and are a little cooler in the summer than down in the valley.

The Sacramento location is ideal. A couple hours to the Sierra Nevada Mtns, ski areas, Lake Tahoe and Reno to the east and San Francisco and the coast to the west. The Napa wine country is even closer.

[wburg]

Originally Posted by melbklyn

Thanks Wburg (williamsburg?). NYC amenities not necessary & I will look into Sacramento....but 110, really? How rainy are the winters?

110 is exceedingly rare, but we often get maybe 3-4 weeks over 100 degrees. Generally, not all at the same time. As I mentioned, 100 degrees in Sacramento is like 80-85 degrees in a humid climate, and it's easier to cool off by staying in the shade (plus it cools off dramatically at night.)

The winters are rainy, generally things cloud up in November and it rains on and off until April, but there are often clear, crisp days interspersed between the rain.

[misplaced1]

If you want cool weather and sun try the mountains. We have few days of rain. Most of summer is sunny and then winter and snow come. It snows then is sunny the next day but chilly. Nights here are seldom over 55 in the summer, more often in the 40's for lows. Housing is less expensive than a lot of Ca. Population is lower but jobs are fewer as well.

[coyoteskye]

i'm not so certain that sacramento is what you're looking for.
i feel pretty safe in saying that it's not.
it's hot and polluted in the summer and basically .... sorry .... basically un-lovely.
to be really general, once you get inland (and you're saying 2-3 hrs. from the coast) you're going to be hot, hot, hot in the summer and, given your post, the central valley (for example) is not where you wanna be.
you want mountain living?
Sierra range?
feets and feets of snow?
so, another state perhaps?
you've got conflicting criteria for CA.