Help! Santa Cruz or Scotts Valley? (Fremont, Santa Barbara: houses, best schools, taxi)

[zoezoe1]

We will be having children and want to move out of the Bay Area (we now live in Fremont), but my husband will keep his job in Milpitas and telecommute once or twice a week. We have been considering Santa Cruz, which we love for the relaxed atmosphere and (what seems to us, as visitors, anyway...) as a less stressful environment. We like the diversity of the area, and how friendly people seem. However, we have found the houses in the closer-to-17 areas (like near UCSC) to be pretty expensive for what you get.

So today we discovered Scotts Valley. It has a few good points: shorter commute, better housing prices, large lots. But we don't know this area well, and wonder if it is too conservative for us (we are very liberal, somewhat granola tree-hugger, agnostic.) I like the idea of a smaller town, but worry that Scotts Valley is too small? Anyone have any advice?

[MtnSurfer]

First of all if you plan to have children then you want to be in an area with good schools. So take a look at this School Performance Map.

And the two areas you have described seem to have the best schools. So you may have already done some of this research. My wife and I really like Scotts Valley. It is a beautiful there and probably our favorite community in that area. Plus the drive would be closer for your husband when he does commute. However I am not sure of its political bent. Honestly that is not usually a determining factor for us if we like an area. So I don't pay much attention to it. But everyone has their own preferences.

There are some Santa Cruz locals who frequent the board who could probably elaborate more on the political side of things for you. Would it be a deal breaker if it was more conservative than SC? Just curious.

Derek

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by zoezoe1

We will be having children and want to move out of the Bay Area (we now live in Fremont), but my husband will keep his job in Milpitas and telecommute once or twice a week. We have been considering Santa Cruz, which we love for the relaxed atmosphere and (what seems to us, as visitors, anyway...) as a less stressful environment. We like the diversity of the area, and how friendly people seem. However, we have found the houses in the closer-to-17 areas (like near UCSC) to be pretty expensive for what you get.

So today we discovered Scotts Valley. It has a few good points: shorter commute, better housing prices, large lots. But we don't know this area well, and wonder if it is too conservative for us (we are very liberal, somewhat granola tree-hugger, agnostic.) I like the idea of a smaller town, but worry that Scotts Valley is too small? Anyone have any advice?

I don't get the sense that Scotts Valley is super conservative.
It's so close to Santa Cruz and i assume that there are enough non-conservative folks up there so that you wouldn't feel like an outsider.
I only drive through Scotts Valley on the way to Felton so i don't really know.
I'm surprised though that properties in Scotts Valley are less expensive than down here in Santa Cruz county.
And have you explored the entire county of S.C.?
I prefer Aptos and Soquel .... less frenetic but always within easy access of S.C. proper, Capitola, etc.
I like it closer to the ocean too. Scotts Valley is very hot and dry in the summer.
Sorry, not much help but just wanted to chime in.

[zoezoe1]

Thanks! I'm not sure if Scotts Valley is conservative? Maybe it is not at all....just trying to get a better feel of it. More conservative than Santa Cruz is fine...we just want to understand what we might be getting into. We definitely like Aptos and Soquel....but the commute would be too much for my husband (to go to Milpitas 3 or 4 times a week.) We have been recommended to stay around UCSC to minimize commute....but (at least right now) houses there are $900K+ and not that nice And it looks like we can get a pretty nice house, with a big lot, in Scotts Valley for that price, and cut my husband's commute by 10 minutes or so each way.

We'll head down there this weekend to try to get a better feel for the area.....but if anyone else has any advice, we'd appreciate it!

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by zoezoe1

Thanks! I'm not sure if Scotts Valley is conservative? Maybe it is not at all....just trying to get a better feel of it. More conservative than Santa Cruz is fine...we just want to understand what we might be getting into. We definitely like Aptos and Soquel....but the commute would be too much for my husband (to go to Milpitas 3 or 4 times a week.) We have been recommended to stay around UCSC to minimize commute....but (at least right now) houses there are $900K+ and not that nice And it looks like we can get a pretty nice house, with a big lot, in Scotts Valley for that price, and cut my husband's commute by 10 minutes or so each way.

We'll head down there this weekend to try to get a better feel for the area.....but if anyone else has any advice, we'd appreciate it!

I wouldn't mind Scotts Valley.
It's rather lovely.
I just prefer to be closer to the coast and i love the spirit of S.C.
But you'll be close enough to catch it up there and the commute from Scotts Valley to Santa Cruz during non-rush hour times is really easy and fast.
You'll be able to get to the beach in no time.
Also, living closer to UCSC would cut down your the commute on HW1 but if your husband is going to be traveling over HW17, he'll still be dealing with that taxing drive.
In that regard, Scotts Valley would definitely be easier.
And, once you get used to it (the 17 trip) .... well, you just get used to it.

[coolwaves]

Scots Valley is a bedroom community. Most people are commuters and the town shuts down past 8PM. To me, it has no culture and it's rather boring.

[jaynetarzana]

We explored the idea of Scotts Valley quite extensively as we are tree hugging liberals as well. We spent time at the parks, restaurants, chatting up the locals etc... Unfortunately, we found SV to be very conservative with many residents heavily involved in organized religion which was a turn off to us. Sure you will be liberals in SV, but not in great numbers. That is why we are no longer considering it. I also agree with coolwaves assessment. It has a very mountain town feel.

[nr5667]

Spend some time in Santa Cruz.

I live in Aptos and I've never understood why people like Santa Cruz... It's too crowded, and kind of trashy. Most of it isn't even that unique, Mission St. is like pretty much any commercial street in California, and downtown is (imo) pretty boring, after living in Santa Barbara I wouldn't really think Santa Cruz is much more interesting than Scotts Valley.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by nr5667

Spend some time in Santa Cruz.

I live in Aptos and I've never understood why people like Santa Cruz... It's too crowded, and kind of trashy. Most of it isn't even that unique, Mission St. is like pretty much any commercial street in California, and downtown is (imo) pretty boring, after living in Santa Barbara I wouldn't really think Santa Cruz is much more interesting than Scotts Valley.

regardless of whether or not you're impressed with santa cruz, to say that santa cruz is not more "interesting" than scotts valley is ... well ... interesting.
they are two very different places and santa cruz = "trashy"?
let's say funky and chaotic.
or let me say funky and chaotic (which scotts valley certainly is not).

[krudmonk]

Santa Cruz satisfies a strong niche. If you don't fall into that category, then it's easy to wonder what the fuss is about. If you're in a punk band, the love affair is clear.