Is buying a house in Antelope Valley “settling”? (Oxnard: schools, university)

[Mark Freeman]

Hello, I live in Tucson right now and have been for the last 20 years. I’v always wanted to move to Southern California but the cost of living seems to be rising every year at a fast rate. I’v looked through literally every suburb in SoCal and it seems like Palmdale Lancaster area is in my affordablity range. Being close to the beach is a big deal for me. I know Antelope Valley isn’t exactly next to the beach but it looks like an easy quick drive judging off Google Map.

There seems to be great schools for my children and the environment is very suburban so it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt for them. Any help would be great! I’m just concerned at the bad reputation of the area based on what i’v read on old City Data post. I’m hoping ether they’re exaggerating or things have improved.

[JB316]

Having worked here for the last couple of years; the bad parts are bad, but the good parts are perfectly fine. Just stick to the west side of 14, there are some great housing areas around west Palmdale/Lancaster: Rancho Vista, Quartz Hill, etc....

[EdRoth]

Originally Posted by Mark Freeman

Hello, I live in Tucson right now and have been for the last 20 years. I’v always wanted to move to Southern California but the cost of living seems to be rising every year at a fast rate. I’v looked through literally every suburb in SoCal and it seems like Palmdale Lancaster area is in my affordablity range. Being close to the beach is a big deal for me. I know Antelope Valley isn’t exactly next to the beach but it looks like an easy quick drive judging off Google Map.

There seems to be great schools for my children and the environment is very suburban so it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt for them. Any help would be great! I’m just concerned at the bad reputation of the area based on what i’v read on old City Data post. I’m hoping ether they’re exaggerating or things have improved.

2 plus hours to the beach (each way if you're lucky) is not close to the beach!

[jm1982]

You aren't going to get the L.A or typical "SoCal" experience in the Antelope Valley, but housing is definitely relatively affordable.

Besides the beach in L.A being 2 hours or so away is there anything else drawing you to the area?

I don't know Tuscon too well but I'm pretty sure there is a lot more going on there versus Lancaster or Palmdale.

There also don't seem to be too many great jobs in the area either..and I wouldn't really recommend commuting into L.A to work.

Have you been to the Lancaster/Palmdale area before? If you have an like it then who cares what other people think?

[ryanms3030]

The schools are not good

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by Mark Freeman

Hello, I live in Tucson right now and have been for the last 20 years. I’v always wanted to move to Southern California but the cost of living seems to be rising every year at a fast rate. I’v looked through literally every suburb in SoCal and it seems like Palmdale Lancaster area is in my affordablity range. Being close to the beach is a big deal for me. I know Antelope Valley isn’t exactly next to the beach but it looks like an easy quick drive judging off Google Map.

There seems to be great schools for my children and the environment is very suburban so it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt for them. Any help would be great! I’m just concerned at the bad reputation of the area based on what i’v read on old City Data post. I’m hoping ether they’re exaggerating or things have improved.

So you’ thinking of moving to AV because “... being close to the beach...” is a big deal to you?

Do you have a job? Need an income to live?

Give us more....

[nightlysparrow]

Have you looked at beach city Oxnard prices?

[Kaririopelle21]

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[jm1982]

Originally Posted by Kaririopelle21

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You sure you on the right site ?

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by jm1982

You aren't going to get the L.A or typical "SoCal" experience in the Antelope Valley, but housing is definitely relatively affordable.

Besides the beach in L.A being 2 hours or so away is there anything else drawing you to the area?

I don't know Tuscon too well but I'm pretty sure there is a lot more going on there versus Lancaster or Palmdale.

There also don't seem to be too many great jobs in the area either..and I wouldn't really recommend commuting into L.A to work.

I agree with the above.

Having lived in Tucson and only visited Palmdale/Lancaster I think Tucson is a better place to live overall.

--Better climate, although subjective (warmer winters in Tucson, although summers in Tucson hotter, too).
--Less traffic (especially because most people in Palmdale/Lancaster have to commute long distances for decent paying employment).
--Lower cost of living in Tucson.
--Tucson, being a university town has a better arts/culture scene.
--Better natural scenery in Tucson.

Other than being 2 hours from the beach, I can't see any advantage to the Antelope Valley. And the thing is, if you are caught up in the work/commute daily grind (as most people with kids are), you won't be going to the beach nearly as often as you think you will--not even on the weekend. You'll be too busy doing chores and recovering from the work/commute grind. You're better off living in Tucson and just visiting CA on vacation.