Folsom, Placerville, Granite Bay, Auburn...where to live? (Sacramento, Roseville: rental, house)

[Steph77]

I have been skimming over posts off and on for the past few weeks. I would love to hear people's opinion as we decide where to move.

My husband just got a job in Folsom and we will be moving up to that area from the Bay Area. I have a very rough idea of what is where, but not enough of an idea to make an informed decision as of yet.

Here is some of the factors we are trying to include when deciding where to live:

1. Husband will work in folsom and placerville.
2. Oldest daughter is a competitivie gymnast. She will either go to Auburn, Roseville, or Rancho Cordova 4-5 days a week.
3. Youngest son is somewhat special needs so a school district that has good special needs resources (he will be 3 when we move and transitioning to the local school district).
4. We are a diverse family consisting of different nationalities and races

At this point we are most interested in the foothills...but are not sure if it is a feasibility with our issues listed above (commute times, resources, etc...).

We are looking at Placerville, Auburn, Folsom, Granite Bay, Rancho Cordova....

Are any of these really good options or really bad options? why?

Are there other areas we should be considering that we may have overlooked?

How bad is traffic from Auburn to Roseville or Auburn to Folsom? How long of a drive is it from Placerville to Rancho Cordova?

Any feedback to help us narrow our choices would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

[Calidreemer]

Hi - I have been asking about these areas too and really haven't gotten responses. Not sure why - maybe these communities aren't represented well in these forums? We visited Granite Bay, Folsom and Auburn when we were last out checking out communities to help us narrow them down (moving from Chicago area). We didn't love Auburn, thought it was too rustic for us. Liked Folsom, El Dorado Hills, 12 bridges in Lincoln, and Whitney Ranch in Rocklin. We ruled out Granite Bay and Rancho Cordova is not an area we are considering.

We always check the demographics and drive through the area to get a sense of how people take care of their properties and what kind of amenities are available.

My cousin who lives in Roseville says the traffic is always horrible, especially on 50, but to us living and dealing with Chicago traffic, we haven't seen anything that bothers us except for rush hour with an accident going into San Fran. Just remember, we don't live there yet!

Good luck!

[Cayce29]

Originally Posted by Steph77

I have been skimming over posts off and on for the past few weeks. I would love to hear people's opinion as we decide where to move.

My husband just got a job in Folsom and we will be moving up to that area from the Bay Area. I have a very rough idea of what is where, but not enough of an idea to make an informed decision as of yet.

Here is some of the factors we are trying to include when deciding where to live:

1. Husband will work in folsom and placerville.
2. Oldest daughter is a competitivie gymnast. She will either go to Auburn, Roseville, or Rancho Cordova 4-5 days a week.
3. Youngest son is somewhat special needs so a school district that has good special needs resources (he will be 3 when we move and transitioning to the local school district).
4. We are a diverse family consisting of different nationalities and races

At this point we are most interested in the foothills...but are not sure if it is a feasibility with our issues listed above (commute times, resources, etc...).

We are looking at Placerville, Auburn, Folsom, Granite Bay, Rancho Cordova....

Are any of these really good options or really bad options? why?

Are there other areas we should be considering that we may have overlooked?

How bad is traffic from Auburn to Roseville or Auburn to Folsom? How long of a drive is it from Placerville to Rancho Cordova?

Any feedback to help us narrow our choices would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

If you're considering Rancho Cordova, you may want to focus on Gold River. I've found that it's the best place in the area and is nicer than any of the other nearby communities (quality of school, shopping, safety, HOA/home upkeep, walking/biking trails, etc.). The drive from Placerville to Rancho Cordova typically is around 20 to 25 minutes. Gold River also is convenient for heading into the downtown Sacto area.

Folsom is a decent area (some nice homes/communities, good shopping, etc.). Folsom is home to a large Intel campus...but Folsom also is home to a CA State prison.

El Dorado Hills is a very nice area up Hwy 50 a bit from Folsom. It's actually in between Folsom and Placerville. EDH isn't on your list, but it's well worth looking into.

[Kingsnkali]

Sounds like you would want to stay on the Highway 50 corridor with Rancho, Folsom and Placerville in your equation. The drive on Folsom-Auburn Blvd is busy and takes time if you want to go to Auburn from Folsom. Most of it is a woodsy, curvy two lane.

If I was you I would focus on Gold River, Folsom or El Dorado Hills. That way, you husband can have a reverse commute when he goes to work in Placerville in the morning and a return down the hill in the afternoon.

[tande1n5]

Saying that you're considering both Granite Bay and Rancho Cordova is quite the difference. You're talking about what is assumed (weather deserved or undeserved, everyone's opinion will differ) by most as one of the nicest vs. one of the worst parts of the area.

This being said, I think that there are plenty of fine parts of Rancho, and you'll definitely get more for your money. Folsom is tract suburbs for the most part and is middle to upper-middle class.

My parents live in Granite Bay, and it's in my opinion one of the nicest places to live in Sacramento, and the main area I'd consider if I were to move back, but it's quite expensive, and the drive between the 80 corridor (to Roseville and Auburn) and the 50 (Folsom, Placerville, and Rancho Cordova) is, like what was said above, on a windy road and prone to traffic (still nothing by big-city standards.)

The school district in Folsom is good, Granite Bay is great, and I don't really think all that special in Cordova (although the high school district is the same as Folsom's). Special ed in the districts I cannot comment on, since it's one of those things you know nothing about unless your family needs it.

Overall, the big pain is getting between the 50 and 80, since there's no connection other than surface streets. It's one of the plagues of living here, and many people feel your pain. Since you'll be needing to get to both highways at one point or another, it seems like you'll just have to put up with it.

The two strategies I can think of is to 1) pick a central area (GB is pretty central), or 2) pick the corridor you'll be using more and live along it (Folsom, Cordova, Placerville for 50 and Auburn along 80).

If Your husband needs to go to Placerville a lot, Auburn might be quite the hike since you have to go all around Folsom Lake... that being said, it's more rural and pretty beautiful, with some opportunities to own decent parcels of land.

I don't know where you're coming from, but if it's a bigger area, you might find all of this "traffic" stuff to be a joke anyway.

[PNH]

As a diverse family, you might want to check out the demographics for various schools to find an area that will feel comfortable to you. I work in Roseville and live in the Bay Area--I'll be moving to Placer county this coming summer. I also have a family with diverse ethnicities, and I decided not to consider Auburn because it is about 99% white. I'm currently planning on moving to Roseville--not nearly as diverse as the Bay Area, but better than the communities that are all white.

[thetruth8888]

I don't recommend Auburn or Placer County. Auburn is the worst city/county to be in. Send me a private message for more info.

[hethrly]

Folsom and Granite Bay are going to be little pricier and pretty homogenous -- racially speaking.
Placerville is nice -- but driving 4-5 times a week to Auburn or Roseville will be terrible -- the commute to Rancho wouldn't be that bad.
The Rancho area is very spotty -- some great areas -- some not so great.
In that area I would focus on Anatolia, Mather, and Stone Creek -- they are newer and nicer.
I have lived in Mather for 7 years and have a rental house there now. I moved there for the easy commute to everything on the 50 corridor (via freeways or back roads) and the diversity is one of the best in the area, I think. My favorite thing about living there was the fact that it is a neighborhood of working families from all different backgrounds. That is not to say that doesn't exist elsewhere -- I just know it was a big change for me, having grown up in Folsom.
Please feel free to email me directly if you have any questions. I don't get on this board too often.
Good luck!
Heather

[Lori Prizmich]

Hi there - I've never posted, so bear with me. I have lived in the greater Sacramento area for the past 25 years and am familiar with all the areas and specifically familiar with the areas you've mentioned (i'm a realtor). The drive from Folsom (I50) to Auburn (I80) is not feasible. Folsom to Roseville is a possibility if you live in East Roseville (95661) and work on the American River side of Folsom. Not an easy drive though.

They are up 2 different corridors that connect near downtown Sacramento. Placerville, Auburn, Granite Bay have a bit less diverse demographic than the other areas you mentioned. Granite Bay has somewhat prohibitive home prices. If your husband is going to work in Folsom then Folsom is a good bet. Essentially Roseville and Folsom are the same with regard to diversity and schools. Homes are a little more expensive overall in Folsom but similar.

Rancho is fine, lots of diversity but check the schools you would live near - they are hit and miss. Housing is less expensive in Rancho and there are fewer restaurants, less entertainment and less retail. Hope that helps...

[mmcguire]

I like Folsom, El Dorado Hills, & Rancho Murieta.

Folsom has a lot of stores, El Dorado Hills has less but still has what you need, and Rancho Murieta is really away from it all. You might get more info on the local sites For Folsom see myfolsom.com & Folsomforum.com. El Dorado Hills see edhforum.com (this one is new) and for Rancho Murieta see murietaonline.com