Looking to relocate to Sacramento (Fresno, Arden-Arcade: apartment, for rent, buying a house)

[Drivingmenuts32]

My husband is applying for a job in Sacramento and I'm looking for info regarding neighborhoods. We have 3 small children, one is in school. He's going to be working potentially in Arden-Arcade and would like to have a commute less than 20 minutes away with traffic. We want good schools or the ability to transfer to a nearby good school, and safe, no drugs, gangs on the corner, shootings, etc. But for reference, we have lived in the Fresno/Clovis area for 10+ years. Walkability would be nice to school, shopping, work, or activities, but we also want quiet, no nightlife in earshot. We are thinking Arden-Arcade for renting a house for 1-2 years, but would like to live somewhere we can end up buying a house and not change schools. Any help or advice on Arden-Arcade? Or on navigating the school districts to register my kiddo?

[caligirlz]

That area is really patchy. Some of the nicer neighborhoods are near Whole Foods: i.e. Garden of the Gods, Sierra Oaks, Arden Oaks or Campus Commons, RiverPark, East Sac towards Sac State. There are some nicer areas off Fair Oaks Blvd & American River Drive. Stay away from Watt, and anywhere north of El Camino. I would suggest checking GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community
Just be aware, there is nothing in this area that will be anything like Clovis/Fresno, unless you move up to the Lincoln area.

[Malloric]

Originally Posted by caligirlz

That area is really patchy. Some of the nicer neighborhoods are near Whole Foods: i.e. Garden of the Gods, Sierra Oaks, Arden Oaks or Campus Commons, RiverPark, East Sac towards Sac State. There are some nicer areas off Fair Oaks Blvd & American River Drive. Stay away from Watt, and anywhere north of El Camino. I would suggest checking GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community
Just be aware, there is nothing in this area that will be anything like Clovis/Fresno, unless you move up to the Lincoln area.

Pocket and North Natomas. They're both much smaller and not exactly Clovis, but then neither is Lincoln.

[caligirlz]

Originally Posted by Malloric

Pocket and North Natomas. They're both much smaller and not exactly Clovis, but then neither is Lincoln.

Possibly...in many ways Lincoln is more like Clovis. I guess the OP will have to tell us which is more important, "like Clovis" or 20 minute commute from work in Arden-Arcade.

[Drivingmenuts32]

I really don't think I need it to be just like Clovis. Part of the reason to move is to get a little cooler (just a bit) at night, and maybe slightly better air quality. But the <20 minute commute is a top concern. Also safety and schools. We could walk to our school here and that was super nice. Parks, access to activities for kids, etc. But if I wanted just-like-Clovis, I'd stay put. We can definitely handle a little more urban or suburban, don't care, just not a flat in a high rise. Schools, safety, and proximity to Arden. The areas you all mentioned are all very spotty with the schools. Many of the best schools are open or fundamental schools and the deadlines to apply for these schools or for intradistrict transfers have all long since passed. Our budget BTW is around $2000/mo for rent.

[Drivingmenuts32]

Lincoln is way too far. I would go to Roseville first. I'm also looking at Carmicheal, Land Park, East Sac. Natomas is nice, a little further than we want. If it's not safe in town, we may have to go further out, just hoping to stay close.

[Adriatica]

I moved from Clovis to Sac a few months ago. We live in the Pocket/Greenahven, which I enjoy. It's a bit like the older/original parts of northwest Fresno. I would also consider Land Park for sure (sort of has an Old Fig/Sunnyside feel). I can't help with schools since we homeschool. But it's a pretty smooth transition to make since the areas have a fair amount of similarities.

[wburg]

Carmichael would be a good choice, or the neighborhoods of Arden-Arcade on the southern end along Fair Oaks Boulevard, or American River Drive/La Riviera. That would also put you next to the river, which functions as a heatsink of sorts. Close to parks and schools and

There aren't any "high rises" in Arden-Arcade (which is not in the city of Sacramento) or the neighborhoods you're looking at--I don't think things get any taller than 3-4 story apartment buildings. Heck, the closest thing to residential high-rises are a half-dozen or so buildings in downtown Sacramento.

[caligirlz]

Originally Posted by Drivingmenuts32

Schools, safety, and proximity to Arden. The areas you all mentioned are all very spotty with the schools. Many of the best schools are open or fundamental schools and the deadlines to apply for these schools or for intradistrict transfers have all long since passed.

For top schools, you are going to have to go to Folsom, EDH, Elk Grove, and possibly Roseville/Rocklin. None of those are going to be a fun/good/easy commute to Arden-Arcade.

[Uncle Pete]

Check out Fair Oaks and Gold River too. It's a nice community still close to Arden-Arcade. Since on Hwy 50, your husband will not be driving beyond Arden-Arcade towards downtown, the commute will still be fairly quick even from Gold River or even Folsom.