Moving in Sacramento area, working in Rancho Cordova (Alhambra, Folsom: crime, house)

[buddhaboy]

I will be moving to the Sac area in the next month for a job in Rancho Cordova. I would prefer a more urban lifestyle to the suburban blah (although I would consider a more progressive suburban area if it exists.) I have two elementary age kids that will be with me in the summer months, so safety is an issue, but mostly it will just be me.

How is the commute from Midtown area to Rancho Cordova?

Any ideas on other areas where I might find a house, 3bed, for around 1700/mo in a safer urban area where I can walk to a local coffee shop, natural food store, etc?

Thanks.

[Majin]

Try land park or east sac.

[Mr. Ozo]

Check out the Newton Booth Area of Midtown(23rd to 29th and Q to W)
Here you Freeway and Light rail Access to Rancho Cordova, no more than a 15 min commute. And you have an easy walk or light rail into the heart of Midtown and Downtown,, East Sac and Broadway. You won’t find an Urban, Walkable neighborhood in Rancho. Plenty safe if you don't let your kids run around by themselves after dark and pretty quiet. I like it and I commute out of the area.

[le_dauphin]

The local welfare office is in Newton Booth at 28th and R which draws a lot of sketchy people into that area. I would look more at McKinley Park, Land Park or something near East Portal Park in East Sac.

Those neighborhoods are still pedestrian friendly, have local cafes, restaurants and bars, but are a lot more child friendly and just generally less sketchy/less depressing than Newton Booth.

[wburg]

Look at Newton Booth, or a bit farther west in Poverty Ridge (between 19th and 24th, R to W), which, despite the name, is a fancier neighborhood than Newton Booth. It is also the location of the only hill in the central city (not counting manmade berms and levees) with some nice views of downtown. The Alhambra Triangle is another option, just east of Newton Booth. Two features of that area (the southeastern corner of the old city) are Temple Coffee, a terrific coffee shop, at 29th and S (soon to be joined by a new neighbor, urban winery Revolution Wines) and the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, at Alhambra and S. Being able to walk both places (or take light rail, the station is at 29th and R) is a real plus. There are quite a few other coffee shops within walking radius.

If you are used to living in cities the level of "sketchy people" in Newton Booth will probably be well within your comfort zone.

Midtown is a bit more expensive and quite a bit more hectic. East Sacramento is a possibility and much of it is walkable to light rail, but it is quite a bit more expensive.

[Phil Minor]

Avoid Newton Booth. For a budget of 1700 a month you have much better options than Newton Booth. When your kids are living with you, you will have a lot less to worry about if you are living in East Sac, McKinley Park, Land Park or Curtis Park.

[Mr. Ozo]

Lot's of Newton Booth haters, lol. As for being kid friendly, the Sacramento County day is moving their High School into the neighborhood in August. Most of the affluent parents seem pretty excited about there kids going there(that I talked to.)
Sacramento Country Day School > Home (http://www.saccds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=53 - broken link)
Sacramento Press / High school students welcomed to Newton Booth neighborhood

East Sac is nice SUBURBAN neighborhood. The OP asked about Urban neighborhoods, he said perfers a more Urban lifestlye. East Sac is very white washed, but there are cool stuff along Folsom and J. You can probably find a house in East for 1700. I won't deny that there is less crime and street people in East Sacramento than Newton Booth. Both are an easy commute to Rancho and both have light rail.

[mattinsac]

Newton Booth has the welfare office, and its close to Oak Park. Its just not a neighborhood I would want to bring kids into, especially if I could afford East Sac, McKinley Park, or Land Park.

[Jimbo15]

I would focus more on East Sac, McKinley Park, Land Park and maybe Curtis Park. They are just much nicer places to live.

[Mr. Ozo]

Curtis Park is next door to Oak Park, closer than Newton Booth. Still a really nice place. McKinley Park(which is part of East Sac) is also a really cool area, I would check that out.

Newton Booth is not the same as Oak Park. The welfare Office doesn't affect anything west of 27th or South of S. It's a nice, quiet tree lined neighborhood with historic homes.