Where to live if one is working in San Jose and the other is in Monterey? (Salinas: schools, university)

[movingfromcolorado]

My other half is thinking about attending the Naval Post Grad school in Monterey. I have a project management background in ecommerce and also in manufacturing and would like to have a chance to work in Silicon Valley. I was thinking about living within a 30 minute commute to Monterey – leaving me with a longer commute although I don’t know how long of a commute. School only lasts 2 years so if I had to do a long commute I could. My initial job search would focus on companies as far south as possible.

Questions

Where would be the best place to live and still be within 30 minute of Monterey?
How long of a commute would it be during the standard rush hour?
How long would the commute be during non rush hour?
What would the typical pay be for a seasoned project manager (PMI certified with 4 year degree)?
How readily available are jobs that allow you to telecommute at least once or twice a week?

FYI - We don't have kids so schools aren't a factor but we want to live someplace safe.

Thanks!

[Wisteria]

Wow, that would be a long commute. I am not a long-distance driver, so I can't give good advice on this one, although I've seen similar posts about this Monterey/San Jose question.

I think people often live in Morgan Hill to do that -- someone who knows more about driving those highways can give you better feedback.

Why do you have to go to San Jose?? And what kind of school are you talking about? Are you planning on attending school in California? If so, there are many around for various degrees. In fact, there is the California State University of Monterey Bay -- it's smaller and newer (on the old Fort Ord), and it has lots of degree options. There are also community colleges.

I'm not really clear on what you are posing -- going to school, and/or working in San Jose? If it is school, I'd suggest going closer to where your other half is going -- around Monterey. And for jobs -- look in Monterey or Santa Cruz -- they'd be closer.

Sorry I'm not much help.....

[humboldtrat]

Check out Watsonville between Santa Cruz and Monterey. Watsonville is within 30 minutes of Monterey, but the commute over the hill to San Jose will be bad. Also check out Gilroy - maybe 45 minutes to Monterey.

[movingfromcolorado]

Thanks for the advice so far! I had thought about Morgan Hill as well. Does anyone have any idea how long a commute from Watsonville would be?

My better half is thinking about a highly specialized degree within the military (hence the need to go to the Naval Postgraduate School). I've done some preliminary job hunting and I don't see much in the Monterey area for my background - I haven't looked into the Santa Cruz area.

I've worked for a few startups in other parts of the country and would like to get back into the trenches so to speak for a few years. The thought of being able to fully challenge myself while she is buried knee deep in school is kind of exciting.

We've made family time a top priority (we have no children) but realize with the high work load that school is going to demand, our together time will be somewhat limited for the next 2 years so I may as well go full bore.

[sonarrat]

I used to live in Morgan Hill, and it is much closer to San Jose than it is to Monterey. There's actually an express bus that goes from Monterey to SJ and back three times a day - it stops in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Prunedale, Seaside, and Monterey, in that order.

[Liveandlearn]

For the last 7 yrs., my spouse commutes daily to San Jose and throughout the Bay Area. We live in Prunedale, located right on the Highway 101, 25 miles from Monterey and 50-60 miles south of San Jose. It can take 45 min.-1 1/2 hours each way to S.J. depending on day, time, conditions, etc./ 20-45 min. to Monterey, again considering the above factors. In addition, our area is less expensive than Gilroy, Morgan Hill, etc.

I want to add: Prunedale is located at Hwy 101-CA 156 interchange and is an rural-country area. It is located 10 miles north from Salinas, 20 miles south of Gilroy, 50 miles south of San Jose and 25 miles NE of Monterey.

[missingcol]

I have a friend who lived in Morgan Hill a couple years ago. My friend worked in the Naval Post Grad School and his wife worked in central San Jose. What he did was that he took car pool with several folks who lived in Morgan Hill and worked in the Post Grad School.

[NYCexpat]

Live in Santa Cruz! If you want to live in a walkable community that feels like a college/beach town then I would suggest Santa Cruz.
And it is about halt way between Monterey and San Jose

[agreatlife]

What about Salinas?

[Wisteria]

agreatlife: What about Salinas?

Search for other threads about Salinas -- it's been covered before. There are one or two people who, apparently, live near or in there, and keep promoting it, however, the general opinion of the city is: "Stay Away!" Crime, gangs, drive-by shootings, murders, etc. On the nightly news it seems most of the times that I hear about crime, it's always, "In Salinas....." Check your facts carefully. Good luck.