California Central Valley: Stockton vs. Fresno vs. Bakersfield (live, best, better) - City vs. City - City-Data Forum

TheFlats · 01-14-2011, 02:25 PM

I would use these factors as a guideline:

Economy- Which was affected the least by the recession, which is coming out faster?

Quality of Life- Crime, safe neighborhoods, ease of access to food, arts, entertainment, outdoor amenities.

Education- I know Stockton has UOP, K-12 should be looked at as well (I hear Clovis has good schools?)

Built/Urban Environment- Which city has had smarter growth, parks, housing stock, etc.

CAHSR- Who will HSR help the most, who is better prepared for it? This assumes a fully built out system (i.e. access to Sac from Stockton).

I'll cast my vote for Stockton, although I have only really driven through Fresno & Bakersfield so I might be ignorant of some factors...

HtownLove · 01-14-2011, 02:27 PM

wrong forum. comparing simply california cities should be in the califoronia forum

Count David · 01-14-2011, 02:33 PM

Fresno first, Bakersfield second, every other city in the Central Valley third (Modesto, Merced, Visalia, etc), and Stockton fourth.

TheFlats · 01-14-2011, 02:36 PM

Hahaha. Stockton has quite a bit of nice neighborhoods, has easy access to central valley wine country, the Delta, etc. It very much belongs above a Visalia, etc.

Some people prefer Portland's to New Yorks, I would personally rather live in LA than Fresno but that's not the discussion. Outside of Sacramento what's the best the central valley can do?

jeffredo · 01-15-2011, 01:56 AM

Fresno. Bigger, better shopping, better dining, better higher education, better location to recreational opportunities. The only thing Stockton beats it on is quicker access to the Bay Area and Bakersfield with quicker access to LA. Lived there several years plus have family in the area so I've been going down there my whole life. Its actually a well planned, easy to get around in city. As large as it is you can get from one end to the other in a matter of 15-20 minutes any time of day.

Second runner up in the San Joaquin among the larger towns would be Modesto. Its a hell of a lot more livable than Stockton or Bakersfield.