Laytonville California (Santa Rosa, Paradise, Ukiah: purchasing, college, living)

[curiousseeker]

Hi all!

My fiance and I are currently debating about several job offers. Of them, there is a possibility that we may be relocating to Laytonville, California in the next 5 months. Can someone give us an overview or idea of how it is like there? How is it like compared to Mariposa, California or Paradise, California? We visited Paradise and was taken aback a bit but really liked Mariposa and Oakhurst. Is there a huge drug epidemic going on? Are locals friendly? We tried looking at reviews of Laytonville online but we have not found much information. Thanks in advance!

[JB316]

Laytonville is in an incredibly beautiful area of CA, heavily forested with nearby rivers and lakes. It’s also right next to some beautiful redwood forests and not too far from the coast.

That being said, it’s an incredibly rural area, it’s also right in the middle of the Emerald Triangle (heavy agriculture area for marijuana, not saying that’s a good or bad thing, but it’s a part of the area).

Is the job in Laytonville? Willits is a short drive away and will offer more services (hospital, Mendocino College), even though Willits is also a smaller/rural area, it’s not as rural as Laytonville.

[evening sun]

Originally Posted by curiousseeker

Hi all!

My fiance and I are currently debating about several job offers. Of them, there is a possibility that we may be relocating to Laytonville, California in the next 5 months. Can someone give us an overview or idea of how it is like there? How is it like compared to Mariposa, California or Paradise, California? We visited Paradise and was taken aback a bit but really liked Mariposa and Oakhurst. Is there a huge drug epidemic going on? Are locals friendly? We tried looking at reviews of Laytonville online but we have not found much information. Thanks in advance!

Out of curiosity, what took you aback in Paradise?

[Snort]

It seems remote and is remote. If you like small-town living, there are some things to recommend it. You're close enough to the coast for weekend jaunts. There's a neat brewpub in town that does Cajun food. But, if you're okay with "rural", you might like it.

[curiousseeker]

Originally Posted by evening sun

Out of curiosity, what took you aback in Paradise?

I just saw a lot of heroin usage out there and felt a bit out of place. It almost felt like I got time warped back to 1970s. It is incredibly gorgeous and scenic but a little too much of a culture shock for me personally.

[curiousseeker]

Originally Posted by JB316

Laytonville is in an incredibly beautiful area of CA, heavily forested with nearby rivers and lakes. It’s also right next to some beautiful redwood forests and not too far from the coast.

That being said, it’s an incredibly rural area, it’s also right in the middle of the Emerald Triangle (heavy agriculture area for marijuana, not saying that’s a good or bad thing, but it’s a part of the area).

Is the job in Laytonville? Willits is a short drive away and will offer more services (hospital, Mendocino College), even though Willits is also a smaller/rural area, it’s not as rural as Laytonville.

The job is in Laytonville but I am open to living somewhere close by that is less rural. Do you have any recommendations? I heard Ukiah was nice as well? My employer mentioned there is a huge winery scene there. Is that true? Other than marijuana usage, is there a huge amount of hard drugs? In addition, how is it like purchasing groceries? Do we have to go far to do so? Thanks again!

[zx636]

Laytonville is a sh!thole... unless you enjoy being surrounded by POS marijuana growers who drive 80K lifted trucks and would shoot you for looking at them sideways, and transients who come looking for handouts in the marijuana industry. Willits isn't much better.

Ukiah is better to live but still doesn't have much to offer. Lots of homeless and expensive for how rural it is.

[JB316]

Originally Posted by curiousseeker

The job is in Laytonville but I am open to living somewhere close by that is less rural. Do you have any recommendations? I heard Ukiah was nice as well? My employer mentioned there is a huge winery scene there. Is that true? Other than marijuana usage, is there a huge amount of hard drugs? In addition, how is it like purchasing groceries? Do we have to go far to do so? Thanks again!

Yes, Willits and Ukiah would be the two obvious choices. Willits is a closer commute and less expensive, but Ukiah is a bit larger w/ more stores and is closer to Santa Rosa. Ukiah has some wine country to it.

Depending on how long you dare to commute, Fort Bragg could also be an option if you want to be right on the coast. Another rural area, pretty expensive.

Any of those three towns you won’t have any kind of an issue with getting groceries. They have Safeways and chain grocers like that. Laytonville may be a little bit more of an issue. Ukiah just got an In n Out if that helps!

[evening sun]

Originally Posted by curiousseeker

I just saw a lot of heroin usage out there and felt a bit out of place. It almost felt like I got time warped back to 1970s. It is incredibly gorgeous and scenic but a little too much of a culture shock for me personally.

Ok, I live here, & I have never used heroin, so maybe I don't know what to look for lol Best wishes on your move.

[Mr5150]

If you like a dope growing new age hippie culture with unfriendly locals (to newcomers) Laytonville is the place for you!

When I lived in Ukiah/Willits, Laytonville was second only to Covelo as a place I would never want to live in.