So how bad is Fresno, really? (Bakersfield, Clovis: 2014, home, high school)

[eccotecc]

If I were to live in Fresno, I'd focus on looking for a home between Palm and Van Ness, and Shaw and Herndon. It's a good central location, and the homes are established and well maintained. You'll also find larger lots if that's important to you. The zip is 93711, not 93611.

[Wilson502]

Avoid the San Joaquin Valley if you value your sanity.

[Fiddlehead]

I don't know where the OP lives on the East Coast, and what the job is, but it seems to me Fresno could be heaven or hell, depending upon your preferences.

Heavenly stuff:
Mild winters
Close to all California has to offer (coast, mountains)
Very close to amazing national parks (Yosemite, Sequoia-King Canyon)
Great soil and climate for gardening
Affordable place in California
On clear winter days, magnificent views of the snowy Sierra Nevada
Rich cultural diversity

Hellish stuff:
Poor air quality most of the time
Fair amount of crime
A lot of rather run down, barrio type areas
Long, hot, dry, brown summers
Not very much cultural offering when compared to East Coast cities
Rather barfy architecture (California sprawl)
Maybe too much of one type diversity (low income, low education gang banger Hispanics)

I never liked Fresno much, but if a great opportunity were there, I'd give it a go.

[ssd005]

Originally Posted by Krispytopher

If you insist on moving here, and I really can not stress enough how horrible/bad that choice is, then this is what you want. Move to Clovis! Once again you seem into S&M and want FresNO, so be North of Herndon and east of Cedar. Especially stay away from Fresno state, police helicopters are constantly in the air and in my backyard near the college, not to mention the constant robberies and other thefts near the college.

Sorry for the confusion, I did not mean to LIVE in Fresno! There is a potential for a good job out in the city and I would most definitely want to live in a nicer suburb/neighboring town with very good schools for kids.

Why do you say it's a horrible choice? Is the place so bad that one shouldn't even consider working there for a pretty good job?

[ssd005]

Originally Posted by Nema98

Not among the best California cities,
Why not look
Into other cities. There are not expensive obscure cities here that are better? Unless you have a good job already lined up it would not be worth it. Fresno is ugly.

I wish I had a choice...there is a potential for a job in Fresno and that's what I'm working with for now. Definitely not looking to rent/buy there though...may be Clovis or another nice town around there?

[ssd005]

Originally Posted by Wilson502

Avoid the San Joaquin Valley if you value your sanity.

Damn, that bad...huh? Would you mind elaborating? Every perspective helps!

[BeauCharles]

You always have the hometown haters that move away and lambaste it to no end (and Wilson502 is one). If you have a good career opportunity waiting for you there ignore those with an ax to grind (because they grew up there). They can't be objective. I lived there several years for work and its fine. Not my first choice among California cities, but its fine. If you have a good job and a home in a nice neighborhood it can be a pretty pleasant place to live. I've said it before in various threads - you could cut out a square mile of North Fresno, drop it down in Santa Clara or Orange County and no one would be the wiser. Its just not on the ocean. THAT'S why they hate it and deride it.

[Wilson502]

Originally Posted by BeauCharles

You always have the hometown haters that move away and lambaste it to no end (and Wilson502 is one). If you have a good career opportunity waiting for you there ignore those with an ax to grind (because they grew up there). They can't be objective.

Fresno and the valley deserve the reputation it gets. If you look at OBJECTIVE quality of life measurements, Fresno and much of the San Joaquin Valley rank at the bottom of most measurements, air quality, educational attainment, average income, unemployment rate, crime, life expectancy, drought etc. Has nothing to do with an "ax to grind". Besides, if you lose your job in that area, finding another good paying job in the area is much more difficult than other places. I lived there almost 30 years, I can speak from experience that I would look elsewhere if you are looking to relocate. But hey, if you want to roll the dice, more power to you I guess....

[Krispytopher]

Originally Posted by BeauCharles

You always have the hometown haters that move away and lambaste it to no end (and Wilson502 is one). If you have a good career opportunity waiting for you there ignore those with an ax to grind (because they grew up there). They can't be objective. I lived there several years for work and its fine. Not my first choice among California cities, but its fine. If you have a good job and a home in a nice neighborhood it can be a pretty pleasant place to live. I've said it before in various threads - you could cut out a square mile of North Fresno, drop it down in Santa Clara or Orange County and no one would be the wiser. Its just not on the ocean. THAT'S why they hate it and deride it.

I was born in Long Beach, California then lived in Cypress, California. Moved cross country and lived in Indiana for a year, then moved to Coarsegold, California where I was happy for over eight years. Been living in Fresno for over a decade but I most assuredly did not grown up here, my axe to grind is simply the city sucks and I wish to God I could afford to move out of it. City is dirty, crime ridden, almost nothing to do here unless you go to movies, mall, or the over priced zoo. Fresno is a city of extremes, there is homeless tent cities, run down ghettos, ok areas, and in a few pockets you get million dollar homes. Unless op can afford the 300k home, he would probably be much happier elsewhere.

"Fresno is in the middle of everything!"

Yeah, and near nothing, 2 hours to Yosemite, over a hour to a lake/park, 2 hours to a beach, 3 1/2 hours to Disneyland, but Fresno has nothing. Fresno has a ice skating rink, water park, zoo, malls, movie theaters, and I may be forgetting one or two "attractions" it really is not a good place to raise a family, and I have two daughters. Hence why I am really looking hard for things to do that don't cost an arm and a leg. Clovis offers a bit more, bike trails and whatnot, but both are hotter than hades. I had a professor in college from Africa, specifically Nigeria. He constantly complained about the heat and would say, "Fresno is too damn hot, and you know it's hot when I complain."

Air quality is really poor, kids in schools can't go out to play a lot of the year, asthma is a serious concern for many, and for some reason; according to my dentist, something is up here because people grind their teeth way more in the valley than he ever saw in LA.

Fresno is probably the cheapest place to live in the state, aside from the 2-3 rich spots, and you know the people, architecture, crime/culture, and schools reflect that fact. It is so cheap that people can only afford to live here and can't get out! A literal quagmire.

I had to move here for a job and after four years I wanted out, but can't afford anywhere else. Fresno has a few things (restraaunts) that are ok, adequate, but nothing that is amazing or makes the place Stand out, aside from being a spot to get filled up on way to Yosemite, tho Oakhurst is ideal for that.

Final note/TLDR: don't come here, but if you want to speak to someone that lived here for more than 10 years and is still stuck here, I will talk to you on the phone if you like and tell you the good, bad, ugly, and whatever else you want to know.

[Matthew C]

For those of you who live in Fresno, my home town, count your blessings for one, your standard of living. The central valley is the only place left in CA that can be reasonably enjoyed. While growing up in Fresno everybody felt the town didn't have much to offer so there were a lot of parties and social events. So the people focused on the people.I always liked the social atmosphere, and I can say that Fresnins(?) are socially more sophisticated than almost anybody,anywhere I've been. Why? People are all 'ya got in Fresno.There isn't a lot of distractions of desirable, fancy stuff. Most everyone knows enough about each other that bull**** isn't bothered with. It's affordable so one can venture out when you want and see all that your "missing" then return to the comforts of the predictable and stable, home. And people aren't desiring what you have in humble 'ol Fresno. I say good. Competing for basics like housing sucks and is dehumanizing. Others may feel special about the glamorous location they live in, and the "veiws"and pretty seascapes about where they live, but you don't have to worry about that in Fresno. With no one trying to impress you with where they live, you have a truer person. I grew up in Fresno and Santa Cruz, lived in La Jolla and am now in SF. (hopeless SF, it's changed) There is a lot of phony stuff that people bring when they live in a "desirable" place. I don't want to live in a place that is desirable. Problems! Especially if it's for money. Fresno is not for those seeking a fantasy ideal or conformation of success, but might allow for a more authentic lifestyle. My siblings and relatives that are in Santa Cruz like where they live, but they are always talking about or telling stories about stuff that happened in Fresno. I am observant. I notice, that they snub Fresno, but they miss Fresno (the people in Fresno). They don't talk about Santa Cruz in the same way. They never complain about perfect Santa Cruz. They still ***** about Fresno. Fresno has people that are content with people, cause it surely isn't for the great surfing or sking. Fresno is abundant with good people, space and breathing room for more. There is plenty to be grateful for in Fresno.