Maryland/DC area VS El Dorado Hills for Family (Sacramento: transplants, home)

[CMgyms]

Hello everyone and an early thank you for any advice. To start I have the opportunity to move to the Bay Area from Maryland, just north of Washington DC in in a town called Middletown, with my wife and two small kids. We just got back from visiting Dannville, Pleasonton, Alamo, Livermore, Los Gatos, and El Dorado Hills. We liked all of the areas and really don't know much about them as far as schools and the people. I do not have to move, but I have always wanted to live in CA. You all really do live in paradise. My number one priority is to raise my children in the best place possible and have them grow up around normal people. I hope there are some East Coast transplants that can give me the positives and negatives and a real comparison of what it is like coming from the East Coast to the Bay Area. Any regrets etc.? For the local people I would love to know what area you recommend and why. Price for a home is not an object, but I do want my kids to be around normal people if that makes sense. I also can work from home, so commute is not a big deal. This is one of the biggest decisions of my life for my family and myself, so I appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks,
Chris

[wburg]

What are these "normal people" you speak of?

[CMgyms]

Normal, I want to be around other families with similar interests. Involved in kids education, sports, etc... I do want to end up in an elderly neighborhood with no kids when I have small kids. I don't want to end up in an overly artsy neighborhood when my kids are into school sports etc. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I want my family to be around other families with things in common. We like down to earth people. This is the best way I can explain it.

[NewToCA]

Areas around El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Roseville and Rocklin would most likely be of interest to you.

In terms of equivalent areas in metro DC, I'd say that El Dorado Hills is most like the Ashburn or Countryside areas north of Dulles Airport. Folsom, Rocklin and Roseville would be more like Herndon, Centreville or Chantilly in Virginia.

[NinaN]

I have lived in El Dorado Hills with a small child for 3 years and love it. I come from Texas and really much prefer living here. "Normal" is so hard to define, but there are neighborhoods here with lots of kids and some with lots of empty nesters. The best thing to do is drive through on the weekend and see if any kids are out playing. There are lots of community parks and that is where many kids play (we're on our way out to one in just a few minutes).There are lots of mom's groups (Sierra Moms for example) if you have pre-school age kids. The schools are highly rated here, but once again it's a matter of perspective. There are people on this board that claim there is no way to get a good education anywhere in CA but I don't happen to agree with them.

Since you've been here to visit, you probably know El Dorado Hills is not commuting distance to the Bay area. Not sure where you will be working but certainly the commute has to be considered.

Your comment on kids sports...I would say there is a much bigger emphasis on sports in Texas than here. But the schools out here do have established programs with good track records and little leagues are very active. Unlike where I come from, I don't see many community members at high school sports events unless they have kids playing.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions and good luck with your potential move.

[wburg]

To reinforce what others have already said, El Dorado Hills is not within commuting distance to the Bay Area unless you really like the idea of spending 6 hours a day in your car. Public transit is almost nonexistent and would take about 8 hours round trip every day. Sacramento is not the Bay Area.

[CMgyms]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Areas around El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Roseville and Rocklin would most likely be of interest to you.

In terms of equivalent areas in metro DC, I'd say that El Dorado Hills is most like the Ashburn or Countryside areas north of Dulles Airport. Folsom, Rocklin and Roseville would be more like Herndon, Centreville or Chantilly in Virginia.

I see you are new to the area also and it looks like you came from the East too. How do you like it so far, any regrets?

[CMgyms]

Originally Posted by wburg

To reinforce what others have already said, El Dorado Hills is not within commuting distance to the Bay Area unless you really like the idea of spending 6 hours a day in your car. Public transit is almost nonexistent and would take about 8 hours round trip every day. Sacramento is not the Bay Area.

I work from home. I'm just looking for comparisons from East Coast to West Coast. I can live in the Bay area or Sac area and was questioning the listed areas above.

[CMgyms]

Thank you very informative.

Originally Posted by NinaN

I have lived in El Dorado Hills with a small child for 3 years and love it. I come from Texas and really much prefer living here. "Normal" is so hard to define, but there are neighborhoods here with lots of kids and some with lots of empty nesters. The best thing to do is drive through on the weekend and see if any kids are out playing. There are lots of community parks and that is where many kids play (we're on our way out to one in just a few minutes).There are lots of mom's groups (Sierra Moms for example) if you have pre-school age kids. The schools are highly rated here, but once again it's a matter of perspective. There are people on this board that claim there is no way to get a good education anywhere in CA but I don't happen to agree with them.

Since you've been here to visit, you probably know El Dorado Hills is not commuting distance to the Bay area. Not sure where you will be working but certainly the commute has to be considered.

Your comment on kids sports...I would say there is a much bigger emphasis on sports in Texas than here. But the schools out here do have established programs with good track records and little leagues are very active. Unlike where I come from, I don't see many community members at high school sports events unless they have kids playing.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions and good luck with your potential move.

[Curmudgeon]

Wait! Did you really say "normal people" and "California in the same breath?

All kidding aside. having lived in both Northern Virginia and Sacramento you've been given excellent advice about options to pursue. Best of luck to you and your family. Following your dream is not a bad way to go.