South Florida -V- Southern California (San Diego, Irvine: school districts, universities, pharmacy)

[happ]

Originally Posted by Mach50

I was born in Long Beach, CA
Raised outside Miami, FL.
Live in SoCal now.
After living in both for long periods, they are both very much the same IMO.

Whoever said SoCal is more diverse than SoFla is very wrong. South Florida has a much larger European and Latin American population, as well as Black people from all over the place.

While SoCal has Asian and Mexican..and of course White.

Also like someone has already mentioned SoFla has a much larger middle class and the rich come from all over the place, many rich are hispanic unlike California, where majority of the rich are white or asian.

I think the decision of SoFla vs SoCal comes down to 2 things:

cost vs what kind of outdoor activities you like.

1) If you like the beach, tan bodies, can you stand the humidity, like more of a Euro/Latin influence.
Then Florida is probably better for you and you will pay less.
2) If you like some beach but also Mountains, hiking, mountain biking, camping, can stand the cold, like more of an Asian/Mexican influence. Then California is way better than FL and you will definitely pay a lot more for it.

Mach

I agree with everything but only as it applies to San Diego. You kept referring to "SoCal". I really like the Euro\ Latin feel to Miami, in part because it reminds me of Los Angeles. I feel right at home in Miami & since I grow palm trees I love visiting the Fairchild Botanical garden & hang out in nearby Coconut Grove. I can even handle Miami in summer but couldn't happily live there because of the intense humidity. LA is probably the only city in California to have the most in common with Miami due to truly international communities. But Europeans tend to vacation in Miami & live in LA [if they can afford it]. Persians\ India\ Armenians\ Russians\ all Asian groupings\ large Jewish community among Anglos & Latinos. There are more British-born people in LA than anywhere else in the nation.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by happ

Mach

I agree with everything but only as it applies to San Diego. You kept referring to "SoCal". I really like the Euro\ Latin feel to Miami, in part because it reminds me of Los Angeles. I feel right at home in Miami & since I grow palm trees I love visiting the Fairchild Botanical garden & hang out in nearby Coconut Grove. I can even handle Miami in summer but couldn't happily live there because of the intense humidity. LA is probably the only city in California to have the most in common with Miami due to truly international communities. But Europeans tend to vacation in Miami & live in LA [if they can afford it]. Persians\ India\ Armenians\ Russians\ all Asian groupings\ large Jewish community among Anglos & Latinos. There are more British-born people in LA than anywhere else in the nation.

Yes I am definitely talking all of SoCal vs all of SoFla...Miami and L.A. will throw both off a little.

L.A. is definitely diverse, its "ultra rich/ultra poor" society turns a lot of normal people off.

I guess I would say there are more middle class Euros and Latin Americans in South Florida than in all of SoCal. It would be interesting to see a count.


Comparing the "norm" of both places (what a normal middle class person would see):
1) The "norm" of SoFla I would say is more diverse than the "norm" of SoCal.
2) I also would say the "norm" of SoCal is just as, if not more conservative "Republican" than the norm of SoFla.

[DWong]

I think SD if 10x more famliy friendly than South FL.

Did anyone address that crime in South FL and here is 10x worse?

Both places are great for young people- but SD has a far better working class (for families)

Oh and schools... SD is much better, that includes colleges.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by DWong

I think SD if 10x more famliy friendly than South FL.

Did anyone address that crime in South FL and here is 10x worse?

Both places are great for young people- but SD has a far better working class (for families)

Oh and schools... SD is much better, that includes colleges.

Seriously, Californians need to stop with this, CA is not better than FL by 10x any longer...

For Florida; Wellington and Weston are some of the most family friendly areas in the nation.

Schools? Actually I think Florida is 29th and CA is 47th in the nation for public school ranking.
http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank06.htm


I will agree colleges are better in SoCal...but seriously how many Americans go to UCI? University of China Irvine .

[305guy]

Originally Posted by DWong

I think SD if 10x more famliy friendly than South FL.

Did anyone address that crime in South FL and here is 10x worse?

Both places are great for young people- but SD has a far better working class (for families)

Oh and schools... SD is much better, that includes colleges.

In San Diego? What college or university are you comparing in San Diego the is "much better" to South Florida? There's the University of Miami, ranked #52 in US News , Florida International University (whose law school is ranked #1 in the State for bar passing ratings) , Nova Southeastern University and Barry University which also have law schools and pharmacy schools.

Much better? I'm not saying San Diego has bad colleges and South Florida is equivalent to Boston/Chicago/NY, but you're kidding yourself.

[happ]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Yes I am definitely talking all of SoCal vs all of SoFla...Miami and L.A. will throw both off a little.

L.A. is definitely diverse, its "ultra rich/ultra poor" society turns a lot of normal people off.

I guess I would say there are more middle class Euros and Latin Americans in South Florida than in all of SoCal. It would be interesting to see a count.


Comparing the "norm" of both places (what a normal middle class person would see):
1) The "norm" of SoFla I would say is more diverse than the "norm" of SoCal.
2) I also would say the "norm" of SoCal is just as, if not more conservative "Republican" than the norm of SoFla.

Mach

You have lived in SoFlorida where I have only visited several times so I will yield to your opinion. But the suburban areas & even Fort Lauderdale always seem so "middle America" [not that that is bad]. When in Miami we head for South Beach & stay there or Pembroke Pines [w/ friends]. There is nothing like South Beach [except Waikiki in Honolulu or Cancun] in the U.S. & the nightlife is fun.

Los Angeles IS SoCal ! Not being very modest am I? LA is where most people live in SoCal population wise & why California is Democratic [along with the Bay Area]. The Republicans in Orange county are like the Republicans in Palm Beach county but Miami's size & influence on Florida is insignificant compared to Los Angeles' overwhelming presence on California & the nation\ world. Maybe someone will do a goggle search on ethnicities in both areas.

But since this is a thread on San Diego & Palm Beach then I think San Diego has more going for it than Florida cities.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by happ

Mach

You have lived in SoFlorida where I have only visited several times so I will yield to your opinion. But the suburban areas & even Fort Lauderdale always seem so "middle America" [not that that is bad]. When in Miami we head for South Beach & stay there or Pembroke Pines [w/ friends]. There is nothing like South Beach [except Waikiki in Honolulu or Cancun] in the U.S. & the nightlife is fun.

Los Angeles IS SoCal ! Not being very modest am I? LA is where most people live in SoCal population wise & why California is Democratic [along with the Bay Area]. The Republicans in Orange county are like the Republicans in Palm Beach county but Miami's size & influence on Florida is insignificant compared to Los Angeles' overwhelming presence on California & the nation\ world. Maybe someone will do a goggle search on ethnicities in both areas.

But since this is a thread on San Diego & Palm Beach then I think San Diego has more going for it than Florida cities.

I agree with you, but many prefer Palm Beach. Of course if the OP posts this same thread in FL forums, people will be more biased to FL. I am just trying to be fair and say that both areas are pretty even, it just depends on personal preference.

When in CA: I miss Florida's warm water, sex appeal, boating, rain showers, green grass and Cuban restaurants over looking the Ocean.

When in FL: I miss California's cool breezes, no bugs, beautiful mountains , hiking, camping and Mexican food.

There are great things about both. I definitely miss having NO STATE TAX in FL .

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Of course if the OP posts this same thread in FL forums, people will be more biased to FL.

Hmm. Do you really think so? The few times I've visited the Miami forum, the majority of posts seem to be about how awful South Florida is.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

Hmm. Do you really think so? The few times I've visited the Miami forum, the majority of posts seem to be about how awful South Florida is.

I remember this one poster a while back who was deciding between Coral Gables and San Diego and posted the same thread in the SD and Miami forums, the majority of people in the Miami forum told her to move to San Diego as well. I want to move to South Florida just for a change and many told me to stay where I am. But considering the OP's preferences, SoFla seems better.

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by sav858

I remember this one poster a while back who was deciding between Coral Gables and San Diego and posted the same thread in the SD and Miami forums, the majority of people in the Miami forum told her to move to San Diego as well. I want to move to South Florida just for a change and many told me to stay where I am. But considering the OP's preferences, SoFla seems better.

I was in Miami for a few days last May. As much as I wanted to like it, the humidity levels ruined any chance of enjoying it. Even in a house or a car with the air conditioner on full blast, it still felt muggy.