Relocating to Concord area. Please help!! :) (Los Angeles, San Francisco: apartments, rentals, amusement park)

[pwrof3]

My family will be relocating to Concord from Los Angeles for a new job.

Where is a good place to live in Concord? What areas should I avoid?

I am looking into apartments or home rentals for around $2400 tops that takes cats.

I was in contact with the Concord PD and they said to stay away from the Monument corridor, downtown and anywhere near the freeway.

Also, would Martinez be an acceptable alternative? I don't really know anything about that area.
Walnut Creek is a little too expensive for us.

Thank you in advance!!

[sav858]

If you’re looking for good schools Martinez is your best bet with that budget. You could also look into 2-bedroom apartments in Pleasant Hill, not sure if you need a house and/or 3-br.

I agree avoiding Monument, basically the whole area bounded by Clayton Rd, Monument Blvd, Galindo St. I also would avoid the neighborhoods to the north and south of Solano Way. The rest of North Concord is alright, not the best but not the worst or that crime/gang ridden. The best areas of Concord tend to be farther down Clayton Rd and Concord Blvd heading towards the city of Clayton. Also the areas near the Walnut Creek border in an around Treat Blvd/Ygnacio Valley Rd. Public Schools overall are pretty mediocre to bad, there are some good elementary schools here and there but that’s about it.

[pwrof3]

Thank you!
We drove up to Concord this past weekend to scope put the city. Most of it looks like a fun place to live.
And everyone was right about the Monument area. Sheesh!

[2sleepy]

Martinez is very nice, prices should be comparable to Concord or a bit lower. It's a very safe town, my son lives there and loves it. Martinez is quieter than Concord and maybe not as 'fun', but you might want to drive around and see what you think.

[OC Troll]

whats wrong with Monument Blvd? They've got a Costco there.

[PixelatedTherapy]

Originally Posted by OC Troll

whats wrong with Monument Blvd? They've got a Costco there.

IT'S NOT WHITE SO IT' BAD OH NOOOOO!!! JK... bu that does seem to be the sentiment of a lot of people in the area.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by PixelatedTherapy

IT'S NOT WHITE SO IT' BAD OH NOOOOO!!! JK... bu that does seem to be the sentiment of a lot of people in the area.

I think people are more bothered by the gangs, shootings, occasional murders, robberies, and general trashy nature of the area.

[pwrof3]

Hello, all! City-Data said that this thread still gets read often, so I thought I'd update it with a conclusion, of sorts.
I've been living in Concord for the last year and half now. We ended up living off of Clayton Rd and Wharton Way, backing up to the Newhall Community Park.
I would highly recommend Concord to anyone; especially families. There are numerous parks, hiking trails, playgrounds, shopping centers (with a new mall being built near the Concord / Pleasant Hill border), restaurants galore.
I have never fallen in love with a city more quickly than I have in Concord. Todos Santos Plaza offers farmer's markets, concerts, lots of great restaurants (most local Nor Cal places), a movie theater that has just been renovated with leather recliners. Every 4th of July there is a parade around the plaza area. Every Christmas season you can sing with the mayor and line up to see Santa Claus. Every Monday night there is a food truck event. And this is all in just one area of the city.
If you have kids, you should try and make it to as many parks as possible. Most of them are great and have fun playgrounds. The Concord Parks and Rec offers everything from sports to arts to swimming lessons to senior outings.
There is a small amusement park called Pixie Land, which is a fun and affordable place to take your young kids.
And of course, there are some great restaurants, with more coming in all the time. Check out Yelp for reviews on EJ Phair, The Hop Grenade, Lima, Taqueria Los Gallos, Eureka - just to name a few.
Overall, it has been a beautiful place to live with my family and raise my daughter. I love the Winter and Spring when the hills are green and the rivers are flowing. It is really a great mix of urban, suburban life and nature. Summer gets a little hot, but pretty much everywhere has A/C or a pool.
Crime has never been an issue in the neighborhood I live in. 2 car break ins in the area because people left valuables in their cars.
It's a great, clean city full of some pretty awesome and diverse people. It retains a small town vibe with all the amenities of a big city.
And, of course, San Francisco and all that has to offer is only about a 45 minute drive.
I hope this helps! Feel free to ask me questions.

[clongirl]

Thanks for your update! Glad your family likes it!