Sacramento vs. Santa Rosa vs. the SF bay area (San Rafael: crime, neighborhoods)

[mwaussie]

Hi all. I moved to San Rafael a year ago and love it. But it's just too dang expensive. I can afford a place up to about $1100/month. I'm trying to get an idea of any other places that are a little like north bay. one that has at least some eclectic neighborhoods. Some hippies, progressives, open-minded people with at least some type of alternative scene and plenty of nature to explore. I don't need a perfect neighborhood, but one with not too high of a crime rate. The job scene doesn't matter and racial diversity is a plus, but not necessary.

I want to be somewhat near the bay area but Sacramento is doable for me. I'm wondering if Santa Rosa is too conservative and suburban. East bay looks like a possibility, but there are so many communities that i wouldn't know where to start.
Any ideas or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

[Pushing60]

Have you looked at Sebastopol? That sounds like a place you might find interesting. Pretty progressive...organic...many old hippies and I guess probably some young ones too. Commute to SF about 1.5 hours depending of course on traffic and time of day.

[lrmsd]

Also try Sonoma city itself...
Sebastopol maybe-not sure what you can find for 1100 or less. But worth a look.
Santa Rosa has a mix of folks...I am sure you can find what you need there-ie, there's a regarded community college, plus the luther burbank center for the arts, and a whole foods, etc. The downtown area has been revamped in recent years; check out that area-I think it's also referred to as railroad district or something like that.

It's definitely not Marin, though...you won't feel that same vitality, but you will be pretty close by. With no traffic, you can be there in well under an hour.

Also, check Petaluma for sure-in some ways, it reminds me of a slightly smaller version of san raphael....it has a great downtown, and the location is fantastic...a hop, skip and jump from marin, too.
And, you may want to look at lower Russian River-Forestville.

I don't think you need to go as far as Sacramento, and definitely can stay in the north bay, w/o going 'east', with your budget. And north bay as a whole will be more in line with marin/San Raphael.
Good luck!

[MalaK]

Well Sacramento has some really bad areas. To me Sac unfortunately
it's a $hit hole.

Try Santa Rosa, although it has a few gang problems it's got really nice
areas and it should be cheaper than San Rafael. There's lot of hippies,
not conservative at all. Very nice all around city.

Sonoma is probably a little bit more expensive than San Rafael. There's
also lots of conservatives there. Really nice town though, quiet, very low
crime.

I lived in the area of 16 years.

[gogetta]

To the OP, BTW Santa Rosa is still considered to be a part of the Bay Area.