Santa Maria vs. Salinas (Santa Barbara, Gilroy: violent crime, home, safe area)

[Hapa1]

Which of these cities, close to the coast would you prefer and why? A friend of mine has been offered a job and may choose which office to work from.

Things that are important:

Cost of Living (Rent around $2,000)
Safe Areas
Good Schools

Thanks for any help!

[Maliblue]

Santa Maria has hovered around the #10 position for most violent city in California for several years now. Salinas has a lower-than-state average for violent crime in California, but it has been called the "Youth Murder Capital of California", with a high rate of gang violence. However, as with all cities, there are safe areas and bad areas.

The two are comparable in cost of living. Which is to say, around 5% lower than average for California, but about 20-25% higher than the national average.

Santa Maria, as part of Santa Barbara county, has generally a better public school system than Salinas. Again, as with all cities, some schools are better than others.

Salinas is the larger city of the two, with a population of 150,000 to 100,000 for Santa Maria. Both are Latino-majority cities, with Salinas being more Latino dominated. Poverty rates are very high in the poorer sections of town. Neighborhoods like Creekbridge and Laurelwood are wealthy enclaves that are safe and quiet, but also quite expensive.

Santa Maria was famous as the location of Michael Jackson's notorious Neverland ranch. It is also home to some wineries. In Santa Maria, you want to stay on the south end and avoid the north end.

If I were given the choice, I think I would opt for Santa Maria. Not so much for the city itself, but for its surrounding areas. Some of the surrounding areas of Salinas are very nice too, so it may be a tossup there. But Salinas (famous from John Steinbeck's novels) is too synonymous with migrant farm workers for my comfort; Santa Maria has some entrenched old wealth that keeps it a little more cosmopolitan.

I would definitely not make a move sight-unseen. Try to visit them first and get a firsthand view.

[BeauCharles]

I lived in Salinas seven years and I'd definitely go that route. If you're worried about schools you could live in Prunedale, Las Palmas Ranch or Toro Park areas. The fact you're only 30 minutes from the Monterey Peninsula is also a plus. I've known people who've lived there and commuted to Salinas.

[Hapa1]

Thanks for the responses! I think this couple is leaning toward Salinas after doing some of their own research, but it's always nice to hear other opinions. Their preference is actually to live in Monterey and commute to Salinas for work, but housing is just too expensive there, so I'll pass along these recommended areas to look.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Hapa1

Thanks for the responses! I think this couple is leaning toward Salinas after doing some of their own research, but it's always nice to hear other opinions. Their preference is actually to live in Monterey and commute to Salinas for work, but housing is just too expensive there, so I'll pass along these recommended areas to look.

That would be a good option. Many of locals here do the same. You can live in a variety of places 'near' Salinas and still work there. It mostly depends on one's preferences, priorities (e.g. schools if they have kids) and budget. Sometimes its also worth spending a little more to get a lot more of what one really likes in terms of location.

Derek

[Astoriahoney]

I feel like Salinas is being slowly gentrified and will eventually become more expensive than Gilroy eventually.

It's one of the last lower housing cities on the coast that people are flocking too as temps rise inland.

[Flovis]

Originally Posted by Astoriahoney

I feel like Salinas is being slowly gentrified and will eventually become more expensive than Gilroy eventually.

It's one of the last lower housing cities on the coast that people are flocking too as temps rise inland.

Not really. Inland CA julys/Augusts arent any hotter than in years past(they might even be cooler) Summers are just lasting a little bit longer, which causes winters to become shorter. So it works out alright with me.
Salinas is a steal tho, I agree there.

[Axxlrod]

Originally Posted by Maliblue

Santa Maria has hovered around the #10 position for most violent city in California for several years now. Salinas has a lower-than-state average for violent crime in California, but it has been called the "Youth Murder Capital of California", with a high rate of gang violence. However, as with all cities, there are safe areas and bad areas.

The two are comparable in cost of living. Which is to say, around 5% lower than average for California, but about 20-25% higher than the national average.

Santa Maria, as part of Santa Barbara county, has generally a better public school system than Salinas. Again, as with all cities, some schools are better than others.

Salinas is the larger city of the two, with a population of 150,000 to 100,000 for Santa Maria. Both are Latino-majority cities, with Salinas being more Latino dominated. Poverty rates are very high in the poorer sections of town. Neighborhoods like Creekbridge and Laurelwood are wealthy enclaves that are safe and quiet, but also quite expensive.

Santa Maria was famous as the location of Michael Jackson's notorious Neverland ranch. It is also home to some wineries. In Santa Maria, you want to stay on the south end and avoid the north end.

If I were given the choice, I think I would opt for Santa Maria. Not so much for the city itself, but for its surrounding areas. Some of the surrounding areas of Salinas are very nice too, so it may be a tossup there. But Salinas (famous from John Steinbeck's novels) is too synonymous with migrant farm workers for my comfort; Santa Maria has some entrenched old wealth that keeps it a little more cosmopolitan.

I would definitely not make a move sight-unseen. Try to visit them first and get a firsthand view.

Neverland Ranch is not in Santa Maria. It's just outside Los Olivos. Worlds apart.

Picking between Salinas and Santa Maria is like picking which hand to scratch your butt with. They both will stink.