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Old 08-23-2013, 05:53 PM
 
3 posts, read 6,676 times
Reputation: 10

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I have been considering a job offer with PG&E in Concord.
Seems like a good salary, and the benefits seem good too.
Now, my problem:
I have Never been to CA.
East coast all my life - (Grew up in Boston and Atlanta) moved to Miami in my 20's and now I live in Fort Myers.
I have 4 children: 1 a Junior in High school, 1 a 7th grader in Middle school, and 2 under the age of 3.
This job will require me to travel the state somewhat, and I need a safe environment with good schools.
I have some friends out there and they have helped to narrow it down to:
Clayton
Walnut Creek
Alamo
Danville
and Orinda.
The thing is, I have no idea which would be best, and what the commute would be like. I drive from Fort Myers to Naples now (about 45 minutes in "Season"); and would enjoy a shorter commute if possible.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions?
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Old 08-23-2013, 06:14 PM
 
Location: SW King County, WA
6,402 posts, read 8,232,819 times
Reputation: 6570
It's impossible to help you without salary specs. What will you be making?
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Old 08-23-2013, 06:17 PM
 
3 posts, read 6,676 times
Reputation: 10
Between 150 and 200 a year. Still negotiating that.
Looking to rent for the first few years, then we would look to buy in mid 2016.
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Old 08-23-2013, 06:25 PM
 
Location: The Outer Limits
296 posts, read 623,225 times
Reputation: 173
I don't have kids, but I'm partial to both Clayton and Orinda, esp Orinda. Commuting to Concord from Clayton or Walnut Creek would be a non-issue.
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Old 08-23-2013, 06:46 PM
 
3 posts, read 6,676 times
Reputation: 10
Default Overpriced

Orinda rents seem to be double what we would be willing to pay. Need to save for a purchase, and 4600 a month is entirely too much...
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Old 08-23-2013, 06:49 PM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,287,828 times
Reputation: 38564
I don't know anything about Clayton, but all your other options are in safe areas, including Concord. I also don't know about schools, though. Between Walnut Creek and Concord, Walnut Creek is nicer, prettier, more up-scale, and as others have said, a super-short commute to Concord. In fact, they just kind of blend into each other.

I haven't been to Orinda for a long time, but I have a vague memory of it being along a two-lane road with backed-up traffic. Maybe someone else can chime in on that. I loved it - pretty, quaint downtown area. I'm just thinking the commute could get old.

I'm voting for Walnut Creek, unless for some reason the schools are way better somewhere else.

When someone says they live in Concord, the thinking is - blue collar land. Safe, but blue collar. When someone says they live in Walnut Creek, you think - upscale, white collar land. To be politically incorrect :-)

Going out to Alamo, Danville area - also nice, white-collar land - but the commute would be annoying.
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Old 08-23-2013, 07:45 PM
 
Location: SW King County, WA
6,402 posts, read 8,232,819 times
Reputation: 6570
Why not Pleasant Hill? Close to Concord, decent schools, nice place to live.
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Old 08-23-2013, 08:16 PM
 
Location: The Outer Limits
296 posts, read 623,225 times
Reputation: 173
I've just run this search on Craiglist, also throwing Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez into the mix: SF bay area apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

And yes, Pleasant Hill would also be very convenient to Concord, you can hardly tell where one ends and the other begins, at least I couldn't (on the Pleasant Hill end).
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Old 08-24-2013, 10:57 PM
 
Location: Formerly Pleasanton Ca, now in Marietta Ga
10,295 posts, read 8,457,271 times
Reputation: 16558
All the areas listed should be fine. I don't think the commute will be very bad in any of them. Also the schools should be pretty decent to quite good.
If the schools matter I think I would skip on Concord and Martinez.
I don't think that you going to find anywhere less than $3000 a month rent, easily 3500 to 4000 seems to be pretty common in those areas to accommodate the family of your size
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Old 08-25-2013, 12:50 AM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,062 posts, read 107,003,261 times
Reputation: 115863
I vote for Walnut Creek or Concord. There are nice, safe areas of Concord, and the rents/real estate are cheaper. However, the schools are better in Walnut Creek. You should consider that.
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