Choosing between NoCal and SoCal....NEED HELP!!! (Los Angeles, San Diego: crime, how much)

[Chris2525]

Hello, I am a 23 yr old starting my first job, I am originally from the Midwest but will be relocating to California soon. My territory will either be the San Fran and Sacramento area, or LA and San Diego. Most all of my time will be spent on the road visiting customers ( I can leave at my own desired time) or working out of my house. I have only visited CA once on vacation and am very pulled on what territory I should try to get.

Here are some questions I would LOVE to have answered...

1. Coming from anyone who has driven in both areas how much worse is LA traffic compared to Northern Cal?

2. What major pluses and minuses are there between the north and south?

3. Thinking long term (future wife, kids, purchase of a house) makes more sense?

4. Anything you think might help!!!

Thank you very much for any advice you can give, it's very much needed!

[EricJess123]

Los Angeles is busy!!! but if you a bit to like South Orange County its great!!!
The Traffic is San Fransico and Los Angeles are about the same Terrible. Look in cities like Dana Point, San Onofre, or San Clemente and there about an hour to San Diego and an Hour to Los Angeles. If you are looking for the family feel go to the unicorparted community's in OC. Like Ladera Ranch, Foothill Ranch, Trabuco Canyon, Dove Canyon, Santiago Canyon, All Canyon area's, or even Talega of San Clemente. They all are less then a half an hour to the Beach. Dana Point and San Clemente are beachfront cities. Also San Onofre. If you wanna be closer to Los Angeles Stay in Orange County But go to community's like Roosmoor, Orange Park Acers.

[cthayn]

ok, here's my 2 cents worth as far as climate goes...warmer beaches in the south making for lots of beach goers and lots of congestion at the beach...in the north-milder climate and the beach scene is dramatically different; different water sports attract a different type of peoples...
...lots more swimming and surfing in the south
...in the north-more fishing and what I would call 'picnic beaches'-nice to picnic at, but the water temp is a lot cooler and the beaches are a lot more rocky..
hope this little tidbit helps

[cityx]

My advice is to NOT relocate to the Sacramento area. You will absolutely despise it - I guarantee it! The summers are oppressively hot, the air quality is horrendous, and it is an absolutely horrific place to live and is very depressing. Many of the people here behave like they're sub-human neanderthals. It's a very "ghetto" and trashy place with rampid crime and horrendous, thugged out drivers. The few freeways we have are antiquated, falling apart, and constantly clogged with traffic. The worst in urban planning is right here with out of control urban sprawl and inadequate mass transit. We don't even have a darn bus line to our "international airport". Gimme a break!! The outlying suburbs are better but the city proper sucks the big one!! I am being very serious. I, unfortunately, moved out of beautiful Orange County years ago and now live in this arm-pit of California also known as Sacramento. It was the worst decision of my life and I'm trying to get out as soon as I'm able to transfer with my company.
Parts of the Bay Area are quite nice, but honestly, you will LOVE Orange County much better - wait and see!

[gobruins]

Totally depends on what matters to you and what you're looking for. The weather is obviously warmer on average in socal, but that's not to say the climate in nocal isn't nice. It is! Both places are beautiful. Traffic in LA is awful (lived there for 10 years). Traffic in the Bay Area is tolerable, not great. More character to the towns and homes and the Bay Area. Cookie-cutter-looking homes in Orange County. Many say the people in OC are not as "down to earth" as they are in the Bay Area. I am not agreeing/disagreeing... just saying that is often said. Both are very nice.

Sacramento is not ideal.

[Species 8472]

Davis is a great town in NorCal, if you can afford it. Also, some parts of Sac are very nice, including Roseville. Sac is not as bad as one of your posters indicated. Too pessimistic an opinion, in my opinion. Check out weather.com and compare locations for average high and low. You'll note that you cannot beat the climate in OC.

[califantastic]

Traffic in the Bay Area is worse than Socal. But since Socal is much larger than the Bay Area, the traffic seems worse. This is especially true if you live in LA and have to go to OC or SD.

Socal has better weather generally and especially compared to SF. However if you live outside SF then the Bay Area has great weather.

People in the Bay Area tend to be better educated and more intelligent. People in Socal tend to be friendlier and more fun.

Housing is significantly more expensive in the Bay Area but it definitely ain't cheap in Socal.

You really need to visit both places and check out the areas you are considering living in. If you do that the right choice will be self evident.

[BIGBERTHA]

Move to Willows We need more people around here!!!!! Anyway NorCal is totally better!!!!!!

[BIGBERTHA]

And oh yah there isnt any traffic here hahaha And i drive a huge truck very glad i have no traffic damn Chevy engines lol