Dublin, Pleasanton, Tracey or Livermore? (Los Angeles, Fremont: rent, crime, homes)

[catmichelle]

Hi there!

I have looked through all the existing threads and have a couple questions I was hoping to get help with.

My husband is likely to receive a job offer in Modesto. We currently live in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, CA, so we are totally new to the area. We like where we live but would like more open space (easier to improve from LA i'm sure) and less smog. I also am trying to do my research as we moved a couple miles from a refinery that has exploded more than once and we want to avoid moving next to something like this again.

Below is what we hold important, I would also love insight as to any known environmental issues (such as exploding refineries, poor air quality from nearby plant, etc) that I might not find easily with research. I really appreciate any insight!

1. Safe town
2. Good schools (we have a 3 and 5 year old)
3. Good parks and easy access to open space
4. commute not much over an hour (his company does have a shuttle with wifi so he can work on the way some days, but don't want to do too much over an hour... being from LA this is a normal commute to us).
5. Not right next to a large crop field (allergies)
6. diverse community would be a plus - we live in a very diverse part of South Bay and enjoy that.
7. Amenities close by, police, fire dept, hospitals, all in reasonable distance
8. farmers market is a plus!
9. no exploding refineries or other risky industrial place located next to homes
10. since we own our home in the South Bay, we can likely afford homes in these areas, it would just be a smaller and older home in the more expensive areas.
11. I telecommute so i don't have a commute, and i also take care of kids, so the kiddos and i would love a community feel where we live.
12. We do have some extended family in Berkley and Freemont, but those areas are too far to commute.

I know that is a long list, but any help i would really appreciate.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by catmichelle

1. Safe town
2. Good schools (we have a 3 and 5 year old)
3. Good parks and easy access to open space
4. commute not much over an hour (his company does have a shuttle with wifi so he can work on the way some days, but don't want to do too much over an hour... being from LA this is a normal commute to us).
5. Not right next to a large crop field (allergies)
6. diverse community would be a plus - we live in a very diverse part of South Bay and enjoy that.
7. Amenities close by, police, fire dept, hospitals, all in reasonable distance
8. farmers market is a plus!
9. no exploding refineries or other risky industrial place located next to homes
10. since we own our home in the South Bay, we can likely afford homes in these areas, it would just be a smaller and older home in the more expensive areas.
11. I telecommute so i don't have a commute, and i also take care of kids, so the kiddos and i would love a community feel where we live.
12. We do have some extended family in Berkley and Fremont, but those areas are too far to commute.

I know that is a long list, but any help i would really appreciate.

I would avoid Dublin, Pleasanton & Livermore. You will be paying a lot more in rent to have a 50 mile commute everyday. I suggest looking in Ripon or Turlock.

[catmichelle]

Thank you for the reply. My husband has asthma and allergies so I'm a little worried about being in Ripon and Turlock so close to crops, etc. My best friend is from Turlock and loved it but had terrible asthma issues until she moved away, she advised us to be cautious around the area for that reason. I have looked at Ripon and it looks so great, but I'm really concerned about asthma and allergies there, so I'm trying to gather more information on other options...any tips appreciated!

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by catmichelle

Thank you for the reply. My husband has asthma and allergies so I'm a little worried about being in Ripon and Turlock so close to crops, etc. My best friend is from Turlock and loved it but had terrible asthma issues until she moved away, she advised us to be cautious around the area for that reason. I have looked at Ripon and it looks so great, but I'm really concerned about asthma and allergies there, so I'm trying to gather more information on other options...any tips appreciated!

Your husband would still have to deal with the allergy problems during his work day, no?

Honestly, the tri-valley area has a lot of allergens as well. Maybe better air quality than the central valley, but in the springtime, my allergies have killed me (for about a 2 month period), with all of the wild mustard flowers.

[Ceece]

Tri Valley is allergy hell. One of the first allergy clinics opened in Livermore several decades ago and I had to commute from Hayward (well, my parents did) when I became a patient. It was annoying and I always felt worse going there so we asked them WHY they opened in Livermore of all the god forsaken places, which it was back in the day. They said this is where the majority of allergy sufferers are and there's a huge market for it.


Living closer to work isn't going to impact allergies. Embrace antihistamines, I have. If you move here you will suffer from those and a raging case of 2 hour a day commutes. You lives will be miserable all around. Live closer to work, Tracy is as far as you should go IMO.

[marcopolo666]

San Ramon.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

San Ramon.

San Ramon is worse than Livermore since their one way commute would be about 60 miles including the jam on the 680 freeway.

[catmichelle]

Thanks so much for the feedback Is Tracey a nice place to live? i see on city data people talking about the crime etc., but I know that may not be accurate portrayal of the city as a whole... what is it like to actually live there? anyone know? Are the allergies any better? I know its the area, and I know he will be working there.. but also trying to maybe live in a place easier for my kiddos allergy-wise as well. i went to Chico state and had a really hard time with the allergies up there even though i loved the area.. any feedback on Tracy? or Mountain House?

Just trying to pick a place we would really love. We are in LA now and an hour to an hour and fifteen minute commute is pretty average...his company does have a free shuttle that is already running from East bay (so no extra pollution) which is part of why that felt like an okay option.. he could work on the shuttle and its already running regardless.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by catmichelle

Just trying to pick a place we would really love. We are in LA now and an hour to an hour and fifteen minute commute is pretty average...his company does have a free shuttle that is already running from East bay (so no extra pollution) which is part of why that felt like an okay option.. he could work on the shuttle and its already running regardless.

If you're looking to move to the tri-valley, I would do so because of the better schools (and closer proximity to SF for weekend trips), not the better allergies.


I've been through Tracy and haven't been too impressed, to be honest. Probably not as bad as folks portray it, but not much going on either. I don't think the schools are great either. I also don't think allergies would be better. The smog is worse in the central valley than the tri-valley and I don't think the allergens would be any better. Closer to work though.

[catmichelle]

Thank you @roadwarrior101. much appreciated.

my husband made the trip this past week and did the commute during traffic hours from livermore to modesto and back (in the morning and back leaving modesto about 5:30), and said "it wasn't bad at all" (we live in LA so obviously our perception of a bad commute is different than people coming from other areas).

I am interested in living in an area with good schools. My husband grew up in a really nice school district, and my district was a lot more turbulent with some gang problems, our experiences were totally different. If at all possible I would like the kids to grow up in a good and safe school district without known gang issues.

Does anyone have any feedback about livermore? It would be beneficial to me to be closer to the bay area for my work when I travel occasionally for day trips, although not required. I work remotely and our office is in LA, but I would need to go to SF, Berkley, and other Bay area locations occasionally.

I saw there is a big nuclear lab in Livermore, is there any negative impact on the community? I only ask because we bought a beautiful home 2 mies from a refinery that has had SO many issues that now the US EPA is getting involved. I know a lot of good information comes from those living in the area and really value feedback... is LIvermore a nice place to live? Is there a better area to live within the city?

Thank you SO MUCH, I appreciate your time VERY much!!