what's a good place in California?(not so outrageous) to live in?

Question

okay so L.A and San Diego, Santa Monica, etc. is crazy but what is another place that the price is not that crazy? I'm coming from out from state so yeah I hear Redland, Chino is not that bad ...but keep in mind i'm looking for a place where it's still a city and has good job opportunities that pay well don't mention L.A or San Diego! I already said besides those

Answer 1

Santa Cruz

Answer 2

Anything along the coast is expensive. That's a given. You'll notice that the state's two major urban areas (Los Angeles-Long Beach-San Diego and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose), as well as the most famous non-urban towns (Newport, Huntington Beach, Santa Barbara, Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Marin, Mendocino) ...are all nestled along the coastline.

But lets look at the affordable alternatives with a reasonable amount of access to jobs, shall we:

Option 1 - "Wow, there sure are a lot of cowboys here, for a place 90 minutes from L.A.". Riverside County, San Bernadino County, and Kern County have rather poor reputations in the more urban parts of Southern California as "white flight" suburbs for assorted racists and evangelicals. It doesn't help that the counties are 85% white and residents routinely organize "Jesus Loves" bus trips to L.A. and San Francisco to protest against homosexuality, abortion, immigrants, Hollywood, and a sundry of other issues. If you don't fit either category, you'll certainly have to endure a lot of stereotypical comments from the snobs in L.A.

But you'll get the last laugh in some respects. The rent is cheap and the crime rate is wonderfully low (who can argue with that). And the lifestyle is certainly more laid back and mellow than the coastal areas. And it's close enough that you can indeed commute to work in L.A., if need be.

Option 2- "We really love our state capitals, Los Angeles and San Francisco". Poor underappreciated Sacramento, the much maligned non-capital of California that used to be known as "Cowtown". In fact, two branches of government (the executive moved the state bureaucratic administration to Los Angeles in the 1960s, and the judiciary has been in San Francisco since WW2) got so fed up with the boredom, dust, and heat, they actually packed up and moved!

Yet in the last decade, Sacto has become surprisingly clean, urban, and dare I say it...fashionable. Sacramento is experiencing a mini-renaissance in nightlife, shopping, and art. These changes mean the over 2 million people living in the area no longer consider a night at the roadside diner "going out". Thank goodness for that. Not to mention the fact that it is still affordable.

Option 3- "Hey, we provide America with 90% of its fruits...and nuclear weapons". Livermore, Stockton, and Modesto are mostly known for their worker exploiting farms, mismanaged government labs, and the ocassional torrid 'Central Valley sex scandal' (a la Congressman Gary Condit's mistress dissapearing and Scott Peterson). There's a huge population of illegal immigrant laborers in the area.

OK, sounds horrible. However, it is similar to Option 1 in some respects. It is only a short drive to the good jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rents are still affordable. And despite being the center of some rather freakish (and rare) crimes which has drawn negative media attention... it is still reasonably safe, in general.

Option 4- "The Power of the Desert: Soldiers and tourists!". The desert between L.A. and Las Vegas is interesting. It is beautiful, some of the towns are affordable (though not Palm Springs itself), and seemingly inviting. Yet the barren landscape is also revealing. High-paying jobs are rare to come by in these areas. There's a strong military presence, and the resort set usually made their fortunes elsewhere...coming only for a vacation. Consequently, this means the economy is oriented towards solely providing services for these folks in terms of food, gambling, and tours.

If you can live with that, you can live in the desert. Otherwise, the opportunities simply aren't there.

Answer 3

Your funny. Redlands and Chino are all the bedroom communities for the big places. I can't afford to live in either. I lived in Redlands for a few months in an 2 bedroom apartment for 1200. a month. My friend lives clear in San Jacinto and commutes to SanDiego 70 miles. His house cost 160,000 and now will sell for 400,000. I live in Beaumont and commute to Riverside. The new homes in Beaumont which use to be the cheapest place is now 438,000 starting out for a new home.
All the people at work are going to the high desert to commute.
That is apple valley and adelanto. There they can still find homes for 260,000. That is the cheapest.
You can still get a one bedroom apartment in Riverside for around 850. a month starting out. That is a dump. My son rents a room for 700. in palm desert so he can work in palm springs....this is just a room. ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS CRAZY PRICES DARLING. I bought an old beat up house that I would be embarrassed to live at in my old town for 65,000 back in 2000. I just had it appraised and it is now worth 250,000 because it is the land. I live in a bario on the wrong side of town....good luck in your naive search in so cal. And if you think California pays better than where I lived in Idaho...your in for a big surprise. Oh and by the way redlands and chino....in california the city never stops. But those are way over your price budget. Redlands is the yuppie city and people are going to Yucaipa to live that work there. Because they can't afford it.

Answer 4

I grew up in Yucaipa, which is just outside Redlands. That particular area of San Bernardino county isn't bad. You might also look into Rancho Cucamonga if you're thinking about that part of California. Ontario, which is right next to Rancho Cucamonga is a growth sector, as is the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area if you can handle the heat.

Answer 5

If you dont mind the "Ghetto" some of the apts. there, or houses can be reasonable, in like Long Beach, Ca. But, the landlords expect you to pay for the upkeep, in a house. That would be why the rent would be reasonable. Just be careful with those kinds of deals. Because, you could be looking into allot of costly maintenance. Otherwise, in "gay-town" whether your gay or not..I'm not. They will usually rent to you, pretty cheap. Plus their great neighbors, to have! And Fun, yet very private, if your straight. I felt safe, living in the gay areas, of Long Beach, Ca. They keep their neighborhoods, nice & clean, too. Gay parts,(areas) of Long Beach, are all around like Broadway, on up too like 7th St. From: Downtown,Long Beach, too around Ximeno St. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

I would look around the Sacramento area. There are many little suburbs around Sacramento to live in and have the heart of the city and Stockton to find work in...good luck and welcome to Cali

Answer 7

TRACY CALIFORNIA.....UP IN NORTHERN CA

Answer 8

oakland

Answer 9

carmel or monterey