Cheap cities in California?

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by LizzyBizzy47

Hi there, I'm a female, 23 years old and single. I live in New York State but have wanted to move to California for years now. Besides a cousin that lives in Fremont, I don't have any attachments and really would be willing to live anywhere.

There are definitely some things I look for in towns. I'm a small town girl and love small, mountain towns rather than big, bustling cities... on the other hand, I can't drive and that has forced me to have to stay in larger towns where I can get to everything (doesn't have to be too big, right now I live in a town of 20,000 and can get to everything I need). Also I'm out of college but not making much money yet, just over minimum wage. So wherever I move, the rents would have to be affordable.

If anybody has any thoughts or recommendations on some nice towns to check into, that would be appreciated greatly

Try Davis, it's a small town very safe & has a great University. Lot's of residents your age and while I doubt if you could afford an apartment on your own, you should be able to find a room to rent. You can get around on a bike quite nicely but if you wanted to travel to San Francisco you would be stuck taking a bus and that would involve quite a few transfers.

[scootad]

I second Midtown Sacramento and Davis as affordable fun places where you don't need a car. Plenty of young people, bars, restaurants, and relatively safe.

[WAOrganicFarmWannabe]

I can't help but be interested in the posters situation since I too hope to move to So. CA (L.A. area) and do not drive. The main difference is that I'm a senior. I'm a homeowner but would be willing to rent for a while and want to increase the size of my current household which is small, so open to live-ins, roommates and tenants for my future "boardinghouse".

[Woof]

Originally Posted by WAOrganicFarmWannabe

I can't help but be interested in the posters situation since I too hope to move to So. CA (L.A. area) and do not drive. The main difference is that I'm a senior. I'm a homeowner but would be willing to rent for a while and want to increase the size of my current household which is small, so open to live-ins, roommates and tenants for my future "boardinghouse".

Well, it's gonna cost you a bit to get a larger house where you'll have extra rooms to rent. LA is not cheap, other than heating/airconditioning bills. I think Oceanside might be a bit cheaper, that's halfway to San Diego, and the housing was hit hard by the bust (I don't know how it is now).

I'd say to spend a week vacationing in LA, it's not for everyone. Then again there are so many distinct neighborhoods that the odds are pretty good of getting something you like ..... if you can afford to live away from high-crime areas.

[mrsltd]

Alpaugh
Pixley
Taft
Holtville
Calipatria
El Centro
Yreka

etc, etc, etc.

[caligrlindasouth]

Originally Posted by lrmsd

I know this thread is a month old, but just wanted to add my .02, since this is a pretty common type of post on the CA forums [also, many of these suggestions and comments are not really in line with the OP. Even if she was not specific as to geography, replies could either ask more questions or make a reasonable list.] I think central valley urban areas are most likely not what she was looking for, and she did say Arcata was on the list.
That narrows things down a bit.
I agree with these suggestions: Ashland, OR, just across the border-definitely give it a look via google, and the forums, at least.
Avoid Redding, for reasons mentioned, plus others.
Check out Sebastopol, in sonoma county, near santa rosa. It's just over an hour from SFO, and close to Marin county.
Chico-college town north
Davis and Santa Cruz [though they are more expensive, you can do car-free and a roomate option might be okay to start out.]
You might also love Petaluma, southern sonoma county, and Healdsburg, northern sonoma county is a fabulous place. Google their chamber of commerce and other sites for pics and info!

Ashland, OR, however, is about 20k, don't need a car, has affordable rentals, beautiful, not as much rain as the rest of oregon [fairly dry and brown, actually], and has something of an economy with the university and the shakespeare festival. It's also a little over an hour from Mt. Shasta, a small, lovely alpine community. Ashland is not really near other major metro areas, but Medford, next door, is decent sized and has a small airport. Ashland is pretty cosmopolitan in terms of amenities, for such a small town, so I don't think it would feel that isolated.

Of the places mentioned, my top 3 choices would probably be:
ashland, sebastopol and then any of these: petaluma/healdsburg/santa cruz, in terms of finding employment, not being too isolated, and fitting your interests as mentioned.

Hope the OP is still looking; if not, maybe this will help someone else with similar questions. Good luck!

i had to say thankyou ive benn having a really hard time tryng to find a affordable place to stay and when i say that i mean 600 $ i moved here from the south my home was a 3 bed room 2500 sqft huge bk yrd ,so ive been living from hotel room to hotel room but i am in one of th most expensive cities in the inland empire redlands goodness so i will now search the cities you redirected me to i came here with my youngest son to be with my oldest just to tuck my tail and go bk to the south ..but i just might have a glimmer of hope !thank you .

[04kL4nD]

Uh that post you quoted is from 2012...

Things have changed a little, so you might still want to do a lot more research

[aftav]

Bell Gardens, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, San Fernando, Duarte