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Which has better higher educational opportunities, safer, better job opportunities, quality of life, cost of living: Fresno, Bakersfield or Stockton? Which would you prefer?
Weather and air quality: Stockton (barely)
Stockton is the most prone to natural disasters(flooding), which kinda negates its only win.
Pretty much Everything else - Fresno. Fresno is just a cleaned up/hipsterfied Bakersfield. Theres not a giant difference between the two, but it's noticable if you pay attention.
Only real advantage Bakersfield has is that its downtown is slightly better than Fresno's, but I don't see Bakersfield keeping that advantage for much longer.
There's too much momentum going downtown Fresnos way for that to last. Hsr being a big reason(Fresnos hsr line is being built near downtown Fresno, while Bakersfield's line is being built in the outskirts). Fresno is also getting first dibs at uc merced medical grads because of a medical school. Expect to see a surge in college grads going to Fresno in the near future.
Crime: Stockton is the worst, and it's not close.
Bakersfield and Fresno are tied. it just depends on the year(some ppl will tell you otherwise, but don't listen to them). Both cities have a bit of property crime, but violent crime is usually on the low end.
Day trips: all three are great for day trips. It comes down to personal preference.
Housing: Bakersfield is the cheapest, but there's not a giant difference between the three cities. Personally, I find fresno's housing the most charming of the three, so that gives it the edge to me.
Stockton has the worst housing and is the most expensive, lol. Bay area commuters are to blame for that.
Suburbs: Fresno, and it's not close. Clovis is exploding in population and amenities. Madera suburbs are about to explode.
Bakersfield does have some nice foothill communities and a decent suburb, but it's a step back behind what Fresno has. Maybe Bakersfield will catch up, who knows, but Fresno easily wins this category today.
Last edited by dontbelievehim; 06-08-2020 at 01:41 AM..
Weather and air quality: Stockton (barely)
Stockton is the most prone to natural disasters(flooding), which kinda negates its only win.
Pretty much Everything else - Fresno. Fresno is just a cleaned up/hipsterfied Bakersfield. Theres not a giant difference between the two, but it's noticable if you pay attention.
Only real advantage Bakersfield has is that its downtown is slightly better than Fresno's, but I don't see Bakersfield keeping that advantage for much longer.
There's too much momentum going downtown Fresnos way for that to last. Hsr being a big reason(Fresnos hsr line is being built near downtown Fresno, while Bakersfield's line is being built in the outskirts). Fresno is also getting first dibs at uc merced medical grads because of a medical school. Expect to see a surge in college grads going to Fresno in the near future.
Crime: Stockton is the worst, and it's not close.
Bakersfield and Fresno are tied. it just depends on the year(some ppl will tell you otherwise, but don't listen to them). Both cities have a bit of property crime, but violent crime is usually on the low end.
Day trips: all three are great for day trips. It comes down to personal preference.
Housing: Bakersfield is the cheapest, but there's not a giant difference between the three cities. Personally, I find fresno's housing the most charming of the three, so that gives it the edge to me.
Stockton has the worst housing and is the most expensive, lol. Bay area commuters are to blame for that.
Suburbs: Fresno, and it's not close. Clovis is exploding in population and amenities. Madera suburbs are about to explode.
Bakersfield does have some nice foothill communities and a decent suburb, but it's a step back behind what Fresno has. Maybe Bakersfield will catch up, who knows, but Fresno easily wins this category today.
Thanks for the detailed message about these cities. I've been to Bakersfield but not the other 2 and was curious how they all stacked up against each other. From what you've posted looks like Fresno probably has a brighter future. I had read stuff online about crime being high in Stockton. Bakersfield seems the most stable.
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