What is Stockton like? (Sacramento, Elk Grove: rentals, crime, townhouse)

[cinnabon]

I am in NJ now, but my boyfriend has a job prospect in Stockton that looks very promising. We had been wanting to move to CA and had looked into Sacto, which looked great. Can anyone tell me how far Stockton and Sacto are from each other (can you commute back and forth, reasonably), and how do housing, etc. compare. We would be looking to rent, probably a townhouse for about 1600 - 1800/mo. Are there towns in between the two, in case I wind up working in Sacto? Also, is Stockton nice or not as nice as Sacto?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[CityGirl72]

Elk Grove is closer to Stockton then Sac. And it's a nice clean area

Stockton itself is a total armpit.

[NewToCA]

Sacramento and Stockton are about 50 or so miles separated, and about an hour apart, give or take 20 minutes depending where in those metro areas you live and work.

Elk Grove would put you about 15 miles from downtown Sacramento, and about 30-35 miles from Stockton. Galt is a rapidly developing area between Stockton and Sacramento, about half way between the two.

I agree that Stockton itself leaves a bit to be desired, but a large area just to the north in Stockton is developing very nicely, located at I-5 and W 8 Mile Rd. This may be worth a look if you prefer being near Stockton.

[krudmonk]

Stockton is not a new or rural town but it is still a booming exurb. Many now commute via 580 or ACE Rail to the Bay Area. It gets really hot there. It's not huge but definitely doesn't have a small town feel. They have some good minor league sports. It's not devoid of culture, despite what Bay snobs may think. Many people are now choosing to live there so it can't be all that bad.

[humboldtrat]

I agree with the above that Stockton isn't much. However there are some good neighborhoods. Elk Grove has had a lot of new building going on for the last few years with new subdivisions sprouting up. Also, check out Lodi which also has some good neighborhoods. There are a lot of Hispanic farm laborers living all over this area which lends itself to some crime problems (yeah, I know this isn't PC!!)

[cinnabon]

Thanks everyone! Lodi does look like a possibility - or perhaps Elk Grove. I guess it will partially depend on where I wind up working, but neither of us is going to want an hour plus commute!

[Tim Currie]

Agree to Stockton pretty much being an armpit. But it depends on what lifestyle you want.

Stockton is not far at all from Sacramento. Of course a far north/east Sacramento suburb is going to be an hour or so from Stockton BUT you can easily live in downtown/midtown/south area Sacramento/Elk Grove and be within 30-40 min. of Stockton. That's the same type of commute as you'd have from some Sacramento suburbs to downtown.

So if you want a better place to live, more to do, and bigger (nicer) city life than by all means look into those areas of Sacramento. Also by the way, commuting from Sac to Stockton would be a reverse commute thus eliminating the real bad commute into downtown from the South.

Hope that helps

[choctawmicmac]

Actually it's open road between Sacramento and Stockton. But there's always traffic starting in Elk Grove.

Stockton is a medium town by California standards, of about 250,000. It hasn't changed much since the days of the old western TV show, "The Big Valley." It's still got that small-town, "Wild, Wild West" mentality. Rents are dirt-cheap by California standards. But what can you expect - it's right in the heart of the Central Valley. Hot, smoggy, yucky, and redneck-y.

Housing is cheap. If you want to live in the Middle of Nowhere...where there's tons of traffic anyway. From everyone having to commute to the Bay Area where they can get jobs to pay for their cheaper, bigger, nicer houses that they never see the insides of because they spend the same number of hours on the road each way each day as they do on their actual jobs once they get there!!

This is not to say that you will be doing this. This is just to say that you will be sharing the roads with people who do!

[thirtyish]

Lodi is a small town atmosphere though it is growing to the south end toward Stockton. It's an easy 20-30 min commute. I live in between Stockton and Sac in a little "redneck" town. The only rednecks are the locals. Most of us are living in the bedroom community. My husband commutes to Lodi to work, 10 miles/ 20 minutes). Traffic has become increasing heavy along hwy 99. I would suggest I5 for travel between Stockton and Sac, if you must. Driving through Elk Grove and South Sac to downtown Sac or beyond is a nightmare.

[cinnabon]

OK, all of this info is very helpful! I like the idea of being closer to Sact., rather than Stockton. I have been looking at Craig's list for rentals in Elk Grove, and it looks like you can rent a great house for 1400-1600/mo. (a house that would cost at least $2500-3000/mo. in NJ where I live now! ) But it sounds like if I wind up working in Sac., the commute from Elk Grove could be horrible. Hopefully my work hours will be non peak hours, so maybe that would help! I work in the mental health field, so will not be a traditional 9-5 office job.