Elk Grove: Stockton of the Future! (Los Angeles, Sacramento: houses, job openings, school district)

[brittle_star]

Reading this thread is enlightening. I'm considering relocating from Los Angeles to Sacramento. I work in public education and have recently been counseled by an educator in the Sac area to look into the Elk Grove public school district, since that district currently has more job openings than the Sacramento pub school district. If I found a job in Elk Grove, that's where I'd live, so I'm curious to get some perspective on the place, which this thread is helping me do. I've lived in L.A. for over 18 years and grew up just a little bit north, but still SoCal. I'm used to diversity, and currently live in a lower socio-economic neighborhood with lots of crime (police sirens and activity on my block or in the neighborhood at least 3-4 times a week), which is what I can afford in L.A. right now, at least with the amenities I want as a renter. This is the main reason why I'm considering relocating. I'd like to find more affordable rent and hopefully a slightly less crime-ridden, noisy, over-populated area (i.e., less populated in comparison to L.A. neighborhoods). Perhaps the Sacramento area will give me that.

[ecsdude]

it seems like Elk Grove seems to have more home invasions for some reason than other places.. maybe it's just I only hear about the ones in Elk Grove...

[calnbs]

Originally Posted by brittle_star

Reading this thread is enlightening. I'm considering relocating from Los Angeles to Sacramento. I work in public education and have recently been counseled by an educator in the Sac area to look into the Elk Grove public school district, since that district currently has more job openings than the Sacramento pub school district. If I found a job in Elk Grove, that's where I'd live, so I'm curious to get some perspective on the place, which this thread is helping me do. I've lived in L.A. for over 18 years and grew up just a little bit north, but still SoCal. I'm used to diversity, and currently live in a lower socio-economic neighborhood with lots of crime (police sirens and activity on my block or in the neighborhood at least 3-4 times a week), which is what I can afford in L.A. right now, at least with the amenities I want as a renter. This is the main reason why I'm considering relocating. I'd like to find more affordable rent and hopefully a slightly less crime-ridden, noisy, over-populated area (i.e., less populated in comparison to L.A. neighborhoods). Perhaps the Sacramento area will give me that.

I grew up in the ghetto when I was young. I grew up with gangs, violence, and guns. Elk Grove is nowhere near the word ghetto. Been in Elk Grove for 6 years now, I have yet to see gang members all over the place, throwing gang signs and shooting people in Elk Grove.

Not saying it's 100% safe. Nowhere is. Ask those living in Newtown, Connecticut where the Sandy Hook shooting took place. I bet you those victims and their family thought it was safe there. I know what ghetto and I know what gang infested looks like and it's not even close when it comes to Elk Grove.

[Malloric]

Elk Grove is close to the ghetto, but it's overall safer, much better schools, just as diverse. It's a bit cookie cutter, but then most of Sacramento is as well.

In so much as you can afford to live in a nicer neighborhood, Sacramento might get you out of the crime. Most of Sacramento (and Sacramento county) is a bit of a cesspool. I think LA is more concentrated though. So aside from a few really bad neighborhoods, it's more that Sacramento has very large swaths of low-grade bad that add up to both Sacramento and Sac County having substantially more criminal behavior than Los Angeles or Los Angeles County. The ghettos does bleed a bit into Elk Grove but that's differently than living in it. If you really want to escape it though, look at Placer County.

[settled00]

I have coworkers who want nothing more than to break even in selling their homes in Elk Grove. I think the south sac gangs are accumulating ownership of "streets" faster than the community can swindle decent people to buy there. even with a nice modern house, I'd personally never want to drive through the ghetto to go grocery shopping. Been there, done that. Let's let the gangs have that part. This way we can just avoid each other.

[Stay West]

Opponents of Elk Grove casino circulate petitions to stop the project | The Sacramento Bee

Looks like the citizens of Elk Grove don't want the casino either. Already 9000 petitioners. Can't say I blame them.

I have coworkers who want nothing more than to break even in selling their homes in Elk Grove.

Yep, it's not getting any better. Been seeing this for a while and it's only going to accelerate as time goes on.

[calnbs]

Originally Posted by settled00

I have coworkers who want nothing more than to break even in selling their homes in Elk Grove. I think the south sac gangs are accumulating ownership of "streets" faster than the community can swindle decent people to buy there. even with a nice modern house, I'd personally never want to drive through the ghetto to go grocery shopping. Been there, done that. Let's let the gangs have that part. This way we can just avoid each other.

Boy, I must be really freaking blind. Where are all these gang members you and people you know keep seeing? I live here in Elk Grove for 6 years now and I have yet to see a single gang member in Elk Grove. Take pictures of them and post it here. I want to see all these gang members you and people you know keep seeing? You and your friend must be gang experts to be able to ID gangsters left and right. LMFAO

Why don't you come by my house and we can go around Elk Grove neighborhood and I want you to point out gang members out for me. Let's put your MONEY where your MOUTH is. If those people you point out are gang members, I pay you and if those people aren't gang members, you pay me. Deal?

[49erfan916]

I haven't seen any gang activity over in EG and i've been here since 1994. BUT I do live in the south side of elk grove where it is more affluent. I heard the border of south sac and EG is kinda sketchy.

[luvnlife916]

I moved from Elk Grove a couple of years ago (due to a divorce) after years of living there. The only reason I'm not living there now is that I'm closer to my job at my current address.

I have no idea as to what the original poster is talking about. I never felt unsafe in Elk Grove. I grew up in South Sac so I know what it feels like to live in an area that is unsafe. I think of Elk Grove as middle to upper class. Maybe people have a bad image of Elk Grove because of the diversity compared to Roseville or Folsom.

The best thing that EG could have done was to become a city. The tax dollars stay in EG rather than going to all of Sac. The police department has a huge budget and they do a good job. You can't drive more than a quarter mile without seeing a EG police cruiser. EG is the type of city where you better make sure your car doesn't have any violations, or you will be pulled over.

I would see some of the youth dress in hip-hop style clothing, but not gang members. I work in law enforcement and I know what to look for. I don't work on a gang task force, but I still have to deal with gang members. Elk Grove does not have a gang problem like other areas of Sacramento.

I guess it all boils down to people's perspective. If someone has lived a relatively sheltered existence, than EG might seem like a ghetto.

I agree with the traffic though, it can be frustrating.

[49erfan916]

Originally Posted by luvnlife916

I moved from Elk Grove a couple of years ago (due to a divorce) after years of living there. The only reason I'm not living there now is that I'm closer to my job at my current address.

I have no idea as to what the original poster is talking about. I never felt unsafe in Elk Grove. I grew up in South Sac so I know what it feels like to live in an area that is unsafe. I think of Elk Grove as middle to upper class. Maybe people have a bad image of Elk Grove because of the diversity compared to Roseville or Folsom.

The best thing that EG could have done was to become a city. The tax dollars stay in EG rather than going to all of Sac. The police department has a huge budget and they do a good job. You can't drive more than a quarter mile without seeing a EG police cruiser. EG is the type of city where you better make sure your car doesn't have any violations, or you will be pulled over.

I would see some of the youth dress in hip-hop style clothing, but not gang members. I work in law enforcement and I know what to look for. I don't work on a gang task force, but I still have to deal with gang members. Elk Grove does not have a gang problem like other areas of Sacramento.

I guess it all boils down to people's perspective. If someone has lived a relatively sheltered existence, than EG might seem like a ghetto.

I agree with the traffic though, it can be frustrating.

I think your last 3 sentences were spot on. If someone never experienced a "ghetto life", or seen what a true ghetto is, then they may think EG may be dangerous due to some crime. My grandparents lived in the ghettos in SF and I have experienced what it is like. EG doesn't have anywhere near the same problems that the ghetto offers.