I find, though, that it is a great place for us empty nesters, too. If there is anything else you like to know please email me at aware1967 [at] yahoo.com. Another vote for the Amtrak Capitol from Martinez to Oakland. I like it a lot and it is definitely walkable and has a lot of charming small businesses on 1st street. Im looking for input on areas that have nice high schools(safe). You will also find some amazing mountains and wonderful outdoor activities. I grew up in Sacramento actaully Elk Grove before all those houses were built. Apparently, there hasn't been a day below freezing since 1985. When weighing the pros and cons of living in Dallas, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Sorry Cali. Im a California native and have lived in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco over the past ten years. - The Weather Northern California is home to a lot of wonderful weather. The price of most rentals is very reasonable and the houses are very nice. However, it can be a little too hot for some. The Inland Empire has an economy larger than the entire state of Kansas or the country of Hungary. There is a high level of self-expression that you can find in San Francisco, and it can be a lot of fun to embrace that culture. Benicia is no more than 10 minutes from Vallejo. Some costumes in the city are elaborate. The Amicalola Falls are among the biggest, and they are a popular attraction for Georgia residents to check out and enjoy. Fitness is a priority in San Francisco. This city and its surrounding suburbs are a great place to live, and with the help of Landing, your move can be stress-free and on your terms. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. Otherwise I personally would prefer not to be commuting to SF from Benicia or Martinez because of lack of transit options. Redding has a high percentage of people who are married with children when compared to the rest of the country. Housing prices everywhere are just off the charts! Re: Moving to a cheaper area now that kids are gone Ill be the first to admit I dont know what the right solution for homelessness is, but I want to be transparent about it for anyone considering moving to California because you will notice it on a daily basis. Then spend time in the bay area on weekends. The hipsters tend to stay in the Mission district, and then youll find the blue collar folks down by the Marina. I hope you found this post helpful. Our oldest grandson (who is 20 years old) graduated from Benicia High School and is doing extremely well in college. Pinole is not too far from the Rodeo refinery although I don't recall ever smelling it. In the past year, appreciation rates for homes in the Benicia area were 5.8% and 5 year appreciation rates were 10.7%. The Lifestyle is Very Laid-Back Shorts, sunglasses, and sandals is the non-official uniform or "California look" of the Palm Springs lifestyle. 1. It is a family oriented community with many kid-friendly events (family movie night in the park once a month in summer, children's art festival in the park, street fairs, parades, farmer's market on thursday nights, swimming pool, classes and camps through the parks and recreation department, good library events). Traffic inside of the city it difficult to manage at almost any time of day including the overnight hours. You will find people in the city throughout the entire year where trying to figure out if that is what they usually wear or they are dressed up for a specific occasion. Access to the beach I can't really think of anything negative. Long days, regardless of mode of travel. Although technically anyone can live anywhere and find a reasonable level of acceptance, youll want to research the different neighborhoods in San Francisco to see where your comfort zone is going to be. 25 Pros And Cons Of Living In San Diego (Updated 2023) - Home Mindset The cost of living in San Francisco is equally high. If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. You can also make it to Napa Valley in about an hour when heading to the north. Pinole is OK. Well, maybe Nevada City! Instead, it's normally transferred, or "retitled," into the trust. The Pros and Cons of Pros-and-Cons Lists - Harvard Business Review People from Benicia drive to Pleasant Hill BART if they're going to take BART. People there either take the 80 express bus to SF, or drive to Del Norte BART, park there, and BART into SF from there. 4. Good luck on your move! The downtown main street is popular with visitors and residents walking their dogs. A waterfront City of 28,000, Benicia is known for its small-town charm, history, and high quality of life. Fuel is also expensive, averaging $4.20 per gallon in May 2019, making it the most expensive place to fill up in the country. Yet another perk of living in California is seldom feeling rushed. The community is warm and friendly, the schools are very good, there are many (!) But if you choose to live in a city further inland, you can expect blazing hot summers. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. All three of Californias major cities rank as being some of the most diverse in America. Thanks again I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, my pay will only be just over 6 figures and everything I am reading in post sounds like I might be living in a tent. At the beginning of 2021, the median home price was around $382,000. Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. That means it has more influence than the United Kingdom, which has 26 million more people contributing to the GDP. William Richardson, an Englishman, is considered the founder of the city, which he established in 1835. It is small, everyone knows everyone, which has pluses and minuses, but it also provides a hometown feel that many places in California do not. Benicia cost of living is 158.3 100=National Average AVERAGE RENT BY BEDROOM SIZE Los Angeles: With median home prices averaging $756,000 and one-bedroom apartments going for $2,370 per month, Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in America for home buyers. It's only fitting to consider the pros and cons of this popular decision-making tool: The Pros Rigor. A second silver rush in 1859 helped to keep the city active, and then the transcontinental railroad provided a direct connection with the rest of the country. It's a great location; pretty much 30-40 mins from Oakland, SF, Napa And with the "new" bridge, only 20 mins to downtown Walnut Creek. I have great news, you should be able to stave off boredom while living in California because theres never a shortage of fun things to do! Some of the top places you can visit by hopping into your car include Napa and Sonoma, Yosemite, Muir Woods, Lassen National Park, Reno and Tahoe, or Apple Hill. The town puts on wonderful holiday celebrations and the entire town comes out to celebrate. Hi there. Today Id like to share my list of the honest pros and cons of living in California. California is a beautiful state California is often considered the most beautiful state in the country and it's not hard to see why. The Pros And Cons Of Living In Each State. Never noticed till gone for awhile, but a lot of the kindness and friendliness is a phoney act. Strong and Growing Arts and Culture There is plenty of culture, art, and science to explore in San Diego, especially at Balboa Park. I don't think I could ever find a more lovely town. Over 80% of the city was destroyed at the time, 3,000 people were killed, and 250,000 were left homeless. Hi there Thanks a lot for that, it was very informative and helpful. Several of the bars in the city will even let you bring your dog into the establishment if it isnt a busy night for them. Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California We just moved there from Oakland in February and absolutely love it! The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. I would love feedback. Private studio with shared pool - 8,000,000 - 12,000,000 IDR. Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. The median home price for Benicia homes is $475,500, which is 16.2% higher than the California average. In just two years, the population reached 25,000 people. The landscape is as diverse as it gets and changes drastically from north to south. There is no doubt that living in San Francisco is expense. The taxes should be taken into strong consideration while researching if moving to California is right for you because they will greatly reduce your overall take home pay. When making a big move. I know most folks like to hate on airports, but I must admit I have a pretty easy time flying into and out of California. We lived there for 10 years and I actually miss it tremendously. A Travel Website About Portland and Oregon. Those are awful places to live with skewed statistics on crime and things because it isnt a total picture of this great state. Please keep in mind that this is a personal list, not everyone will feel the same way. He called the area Yerba Buena, and it became a popular destination for Americans in the 1840s. In moving around so much, Ive had an opportunity to experience living in California through various large cities and Ive definitely learned a lot about what life in California is like. Calculated annually per 100,000 residents. Ive never found it easy to get from Point A to Point B using public transportation, which is why I wouldnt even consider moving to California without a car (with the exception of San Francisco). This will be a big change for us. That places it just one spot behind Los Angeles and one spot ahead of Switzerland yes, the country. Pinole has easy access to the rest of the Bay Area but much more limited bay access. Even if you want a studio apartment, you're going to be paying more than $2,000 per month to live in the city. There is a significant homeless population in the city as well, especially in the core, where youre going to find a higher crime rate, unsanitary conditions at times, and encounters with people who are desperate for a fix, down on their luck, or struggling with their mental health. 1. This disadvantage can theoretically apply to anyone living along the western coast of the United States, but there are more tremors in San Francisco that you can feel when compared to other locations. The BART is a little bit of a hike, but doable. The country supports a universal system, and expats can expect to receive high-quality care while living here. Knowing that there are an abundance of amenities and things to do can ensure that you always have access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops. Moving to a cheaper area now that kids are gone, Kid friendly neighborhoods in the East Bay. You can get to the Fairfield store from Benicia without getting on busy highways. Benicia is a nice little town, and the Carquinez Strait is really lovely. 14 Pros of Living in Vancouver, BC PRO: YVR is a fantastic airport Pro: Amazing schooling Pro: Shopping haven Pro: It's home to Stanley Park Pro: You'll always find food trucks Pro: Plenty of fun sporting events Pro: You don't need to know French Pro: The nightlife Pro: Relatively moderate weather Pro: Easy access to nature The weather is tolerable year-round and allows you to enjoy the great outdoors or regardless of the season save for summer, but well cover that shortly. And seeing as Canadians are enjoying increased income, they'll have more to spend at your new business - easily making this one of the best pros and cons of living in Canada. It might also be worth noting that 63% of residents also have children under the age of 18. For me, it would depend on what kind of town I want to live in, schools, etc. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Good Stuff. What Are some Pros and Cons of Living in Northern California If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Benicia ranks well for amenities (A+), crime (A), weather (B+), education (B-) and employment (B). We have a cute little downtown with a great library and community pool, awesome parks and playgrounds, good schools, a great Farmers market every Thursday on the main drag, a neat artist community, and wonderful people in general. These were helpful. There may be a few flaws to living in Davis. One feature that Martinez has that Benicia does not have is a direct connection on Amtrak from Jack London Square (or West Berkeley). In Benicia there are a lot of parks. Have you looked at Benicia? While this is still lower than California's cost of living, it's high enough to be expensive for most people. Living in Benicia offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Cost of Living in Benicia, California Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An added bonus is that the town is located right on the water so you can see the ships go by, etc. You can easily join a fitness class, a sports league, or some other favorite activity to start making friends when living in San Francisco. However, it is a great middle ground for a road trip. Everyone loves it; its pristine coastline, picturesque vineyards, wineries, and snow-clad Sierra Nevada Range which maintains its warm weather perfectly. Traffic and homeless is not something to fun to see they are in need of help but no one can. Muirlands at Windemere - San Ramon, CA - Yelp I will likely take BART. 10 Pros and Cons of Living in Nevada - Redfin The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. The economy in San Francisco keeps humming along. Benicia has lots of open space, a state park on the water, and plenty of places to hike. Since you don't need to deal with the commute into SF (which can be horrendous, from what I've heard), the only downside I can think of is that you can see the oil refinery 'stacks' from some parts of the town (the neighborhoods above the freeway), and that kind of mars some of the scenery. Just my opinion. Benicia has an overall crime rate of 14 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. Both cities are relatively well-run, as these things go; I'd give Pinole the administrative edge. I recently moved from Berkeley to Benicia because, like you, we needed more space and couldn't afford more space in Berkeley. This goes hand-in-hand with the relaxed vibe. Youll notice that there is a different flow to the traffic as well. But these are the things most people are looking for. Your property taxes are going to be higher if you own too since the property values are skyrocketing in the city. Carrie. Benicians consider that Martinez is somewhat similar in a lot of ways to Benicia (although my understanding is that their refinery has much less capacity); Concord obviously is a much larger town (really a small city) and harder to generalize, but don't underestimate the value of proximity to BART. And if you're looking to be as remote as possible, there are plenty of opportunities to live in the mountains without any neighbors in eyesight. San Diego alone is home to more than 7,000 restaurants, and the Hispanic cuisine is considered the best in the country thanks to the citys close proximity to Mexico. Which city would you recommend social wise? It was a film for San Francisco City Sights where I discussed the pros and cons of that Organization. Specialties: 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments in San Ramon, CA Welcome to Muirlands at Windemere Apartments! Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. Commute from Benicia to SF is a two-bridge commute. Pros and Cons of living in Barcelona - 10 best and worst things SCHOOLS Benicia public schools spend $8,132 per student. We will be renting. The refineries are all ''down wind'' and don't really have any impact on your quality of life. Benicia is known to be family friendly as more than 76% of the population has already tied the knot. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. At present, California is the worst state in the country for fire dangers. #3. There are lots of job opportunities available in San Francisco. Also fairly close to a Macys without having to get on any major highways. Hmm. When youre used to the hotter, dryer climates in the southern part of the state, then living in this city can feel downright chilly. Pros And Cons Of Living In Colombia - How To Expat We have three grandsons (ages 12, 14, and 16) who are currently attending the Benicia schools and they are all doing well and the quality of their education is excellent. Both times we were military and received housing allowance. And the school are highly rated. The median sale price is $407,500, which is lower than neighboring state of California. Im terrified. Sure, come visit for awhile. Fairfield is probably 20 minutes away and Vacaville is about 30 minutes away. The City of Benicia is a Bay Area City located adjacent to the Carquinez Strait, which is part of San Francisco Bay. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. we love it here! The economy across the entire Bay Area is on fire right now. You will always find people out with their pets during the day, enjoying the sunny weather in the city when it arrives. There is no way I can be a home owner in this day and age. For comparison purposes, the average price in the United States for the same space is about $1,175 per month. I memorized a script. Benicia fan. There is a local park that the locals are hoping the state does not close. The median household income in California is among the best in the nation at $77,000 (as of June 2019). Well I live in Placerville California and Ive lived in Yosemite and weed and a lot of different places and let me tell you that not all parts of the state have mild Winters or constant sunshine or High cost of living or poor performing public schools. Wildfires have been engulfing the west coast in record numbers over the past few years and California has definitely been hit the hardest.