Thinking about reolocating (Sacramento, Folsom, Eureka: sales, real estate, school district)

[workingmom11]

Thinking about relocating for a job in the Folsom area. Currently live in a really nice suburb of Washington (Bethesda). Is the Folsom area a good place to raise a family? We probably would look in Granite Bay. Anybody know if schools are comparable to the DC area? How about cost of living? Any advice? Thanks!!!

[NewToCA]

Overall your school situation would be fine in Folsom. Understand though that unlike the DC area this place is not an academic "pressure cooker" with the high degree of academic competition usually found in the greater DC area. So the schools are fine, but the attitudes are a bit more "laid back" than you generally would find in metro DC.

Overall the housing cost is a bit difficult to determine. Prices are taking a bit of a hit now, but I would say that as a general guide the housing cost is about equivalent to what you would see in Rockville, MD. Utility cost are a bit less out here, due to the milder winters than you have in DC, and food cost are about the same. Also, I would say the overall state, sales and real estate taxes wouldn't be too different than your area.

[Mossy]

My opinion stay in Washington.

[zen_klown]

As for comparing the cost of living between the two places you might want to look at one of the cost of living calculators like this one. My hunch is that Sacramento region will be lower than DC region, but as between Bethesda and Granite Bay, I am not sure.

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In California the state of California does testing to compare different schools. One of the more popular tests in the state is the Academic Performance Index also known as the API.

In Granite Bay, the elementary schools are going to be in the Eureka Union School District and the High Highschool will be Granite Bay Highschool.

County List of Schools

Because the API isn't tested, you can't directly compare schools between the two regions, but you can compare the demographics of the two school populations.

At Granite Bay Highschool, 33% of the parents who responded have grad degrees and 44% have college degrees. 17% of the students are in the gifted and talented program while only 2% participate in the free lunch program. Only 1% of the students are English learners.

2007 API Growth School Report


You might also want to spend some time looking the data provided by greatschools.net.

Great Schools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community