Folsom vs Fair Oaks (Sacramento, Citrus Heights: transplants, to rent, low crime)

[folsomquestion]

I had been looking at Folsom area but have begun setting my sites on Fair Oaks. Do you think this area is more diverse than Folsom? Is it as safe with low crime like Folsom is described? Does anyone know whether the Waldorf school is good in Fair Oaks? We would like to feel like although we are in the suburbs that there is energy and things going on. We live in Phoenix and are relocating and find the suburbs here a bit boring. Would Fair Oaks be a place young boys would enjoy growing up in? Parks? Any information would be appreciated.

[wburg]

In Fair Oaks there will be no doubt in your mind that you are in the suburbs. It is not an incorporated city, but rather part of the "uncity" of unincorporated suburban developments that surround Sacramento to the east. A few of those suburbs have incorporated (like Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova) and some were little country towns with suburbs added to them (like Roseville and Folsom.) It's quiet and hilly, the Waldorf school is good, I grew up nearby and it's fairly idyllic around there but not particularly diverse.

[folsomquestion]

Thanks for that wburg. Do you think Fair Oaks is a better place for kids? (versus Folsom)

[misc916]

I've lived in Sacramento area the last 16 years and currently living in Fair Oaks since 2006...I'm married with a 6 y.o. and it's a nice place to live...It's basically a typical suburban area but does have a bit more charm and character than some other towns...Especially in the older parts of Fair Oaks closer to Fair Oaks Village with some Victorian type homes, hilly streets, and roaming chickens...Folsom is also a great place with an historic 'Old Town' section, but, also plenty of newer suburban developments...Folsom overall probably has a bit more of an 'upscale' feel to it and Fair Oaks a bit more 'laid back' or 'down to earth'...As for diversity I'd say Folsom is probably a bit more diverse due to the hi-tech employers in the area like Intel and a lot more Bay Area transplants...Overall Fair Oaks and Folsom are both very nice areas to live (and they are almost next to each other anyway)...Hope this helps.

[ElectroPlumber]

Fair Oaks is really nice. So is Folsom. I'd live in either one in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

Fair Oaks has a park in the area that serves as the downtown (even though it's not officially a city). It is really nice and is inhabited by feral chickens (as is most of the city). Each year, they have a "Fair Oaks Chicken Festival" to capitalize on the chickens. It' really neat. Whenever I am in Fair Oaks, I always think to myself that it doesn't feel like I'm in California, it's more like NC where I lived for ten years--really nice.

Folsom is for the most part newer, although there is an "Old Folsom" that also has some really old neat homes and a cool downtown area that has a lot of shops, antique stores, etc. It also has the prison by the same name that Johnny Cash sang about in "Folsom Prison Blues". However, I never hear anything about the prison, it is really kept low key.

Really, both of these areas are great. It's only my lack of the green stuff that keeps me in Rancho Cordova and not in Fair Oaks or Folsom.

[CityGirl72]

I was in your spot 6 months ago. We were deciding between Fair Oaks and Folsom.

We are in Fair Oaks because it's cheaper than Folsom - it also has a b it more character than Folsom.
And although there are families and parks, and the crime is relatively low compared to Sac.

Folsom is MUCH better for families to me because it's almost 100% families there. The streets are quieter - there are more family activities to do, and the crime is extremely low.

We haven't bought a house yet - so we haven't ruled out Folsom. But we needed to rent - and chose Fair Oaks

[Thatgirlforu]

I really appreciate all the feed back on here. I am new to the area from Silicon Valley. I am renting in Folsom , but am looking at Fair Oaks.