areas to live around vallejo?

[Nineties Flava]

Its mainly the northern and southern areas of Vallejo - Country Club Crest to the north and Beverly Hills to the south - that I would say you should outright avoid if your main criteria is safety. Otherwise, the rest of Vallejo borders between adequate and nice. I don't know Vallejo like the back of my hand so I'm not going to make a definitive recommendation but if you don't mind a commute on 80 (which really sucks during rush hour or lunch hour) you could live in Albany. the cheapest living in Albany is off of San Pablo Ave but its still very safe. San Pablo Ave is a robust strip and it has all the grocery shopping, restaurants, activities (bowling alley, bars, etc.) and etc. that you would want in your immediate area. It doesn't get that bad at night either. It would be somewhat of a commute (half an hour) but commuting is a norm in the bay.


EDIT: add the Millersville area in Vallejo to the avoid list.

[Mr. Fantastic]

I have done business in Vallejo for over 10 years (I have an office that serves Solano County). I would stay away if you're looking to raise a family.

Vallejo "West" of I80 is basically a gangsters paradise. Shootings, muggings, thugs running small time drug operations, you name it. The "Crest" is one of the most thug infested neighborhoods in the city, it's not as bad as the sketchy areas of Oakland, but it's getting there. A lot of people in West Vallejo have ties to "family" in Richmonds Iron Triangle. 5 years ago, a gang of three thugs (all caught) went to a barbershop owned by an associate in West Vallejo, shot everyone in the place, and stole around $500. They all had ties to Richmond.

Vallejo "East" of I80 is considered the newer addition to the city and has better homes, and lower crime. That being said, Vallejo has gotten a lot rougher recently since their police force was cut by 1/3. The IHOP near Admiral Callahan Way used to be a 24/7 place (great place to talk business). It's not anymore and the owner said because "they can't afford an armed guard."

[NorCal Dude]

Excellent post. I would also add that downtown vallejo is very grimey and there are alot of bums and ghetto crack heads that look scary. The schools in vallejo are also very poor.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Yes, Hogan High School in Vallejo had a major gun scare a few years back and the city has either closed the school down, or is in the process of doing so.

That would mean the city would only have 2 public high schools, one of which is located West of I80 aka Gang Land.

[chinamen]

I drove by vallejo before. It has a nice small town feel to it with its old buildings. It is very quiet and mellow.

Maybe I was wrong about the place but that is how I felt.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Vallejo has a lot of potential to be a nice "small town" that is quiet and mellow but they need to totally gentrify the Western part of the city.