living in/near Santa Barbara while working in Lompoc? (Goleta: house, neighborhoods)

[hye345]

I currently live in Orcutt, but may have gotten a job in Lompoc. It would be a 25-30 min commute, but ideally I’d like to live closer to Santa Barbara. I’m curious, does anyone commute from Santa Barbara to Lompoc, or vice versa? Google maps says it will take about an hour, but I’m wondering how long it takes in real-life situations, if it’s feasible. Also wondering if there are any decent areas “in between” Santa Barbara and Lompoc.

[Snort]

Well, Solvang is about 45 minutes from Santa Barbara, but that doesn't get you much closer to your goal. There really isn't anything in between to speak of.
Lompoc housing is about as cheap as it gets in SB County, so you may want to take advantage of that.
You can get down to Gaviota and Refugio, if you want beach activities on the weekends.
And, yes, it's a good hour between Lompoc and SB. Beautiful drive either way you go (101 or 154), but that, as a commute, would get very old, very fast. I'd also worry about making a hood ornament out of deer going up and down 154.

[Just One of the Guys]

Originally Posted by hye345

I currently live in Orcutt, but may have gotten a job in Lompoc. It would be a 25-30 min commute, but ideally I’d like to live closer to Santa Barbara. I’m curious, does anyone commute from Santa Barbara to Lompoc, or vice versa? Google maps says it will take about an hour, but I’m wondering how long it takes in real-life situations, if it’s feasible. Also wondering if there are any decent areas “in between” Santa Barbara and Lompoc.

Really? You live in Orcutt and you don't know the answers to your questions already? Move to Buellton!!

[sacreole]

The Santa Ynez Valley (Buellton/Solvang/Santa Ynez/Ballard) would be what you're looking for geographically. The Wine Country Express bus runs between Buellton/Solvang and Lompoc if you're so inclined to use transit.

[hye345]

Interesting suggestions.

Right now, my commute to my (future) job is gonna be about 25-30 minutes, But so far, most of the people I’ve met, as well as most areas with fun stuff to do, are about 25 to 45 minutes in the OTHER direction. Either way, I feel like these days, I’m gonna be commuting for both work and play... might as well have a longer commute, but actually live in/within 10 min of an area you enjoy. To that end, I was thinking about Goleta.

[Doctor David]

I wouldn't commute from Lompoc to Santa Barbara.

The better option would be to live in Lompoc, have a 5 minute commute to work everday, and save a full TEN HOURS PER WEEK of your life. Plus, you'd save money $$$. Don't spend your life living in a car commuting. Just pick a nice place in Lompoc (North Lompoc is great).

On weekends you could go to Santa Barbara for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

If you want to get away from Lompoc for a restaurant: great options are 20 minutes away -- Orcutt, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, Solvang.

Lompoc has AMAZING wineries, the Pacific Ocean, quiet neighborhoods to take jogs, fewer homeless, golf.

If you buy a house in Lompoc, you get more square footage, a bigger yard, quieter neighbors (if you pick a good neighborhood). You literally save hundreds of thousands of dollars, compared to a house in Santa Barbara. Just visit Santa Barbara on the weekends and enjoy a quieter, better quality of life in Lompoc.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Doctor David

I wouldn't commute from Lompoc to Santa Barbara.

The better option would be to live in Lompoc, have a 5 minute commute to work everday, and save a full TEN HOURS PER WEEK of your life. Plus, you'd save money $$$. Don't spend your life living in a car commuting. Just pick a nice place in Lompoc (North Lompoc is great).

On weekends you could go to Santa Barbara for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

If you want to get away from Lompoc for a restaurant: great options are 20 minutes away -- Orcutt, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, Solvang.

Lompoc has AMAZING wineries, the Pacific Ocean, quiet neighborhoods to take jogs, fewer homeless, golf.

If you buy a house in Lompoc, you get more square footage, a bigger yard, quieter neighbors (if you pick a good neighborhood). You literally save hundreds of thousands of dollars, compared to a house in Santa Barbara. Just visit Santa Barbara on the weekends and enjoy a quieter, better quality of life in Lompoc.

Nice post. About 4 years too late, though. The OP undoubtedly has already made his decision and is settled in to his new location

Interesting reason to join a forum: make a post to a 4-year-old defunkt thread.