2c. Additionally, Barcelona enjoys a bit more than 2500 hours of sunshine a year - about average for the south of Europe. Thank you! Is buying and building a home in Smith River, Ca any better when it comes to the cons you stated. At this point, anyone living in California knows that wildfires are inevitable during the summer and we actually plan around them. The crime rate is high; 20.3%, 3 times (in 100,000 people) more than the entire US itself. We moved to Benicia 2 1/2 years ago from Los Angeles. If you arent involved in the high-tech sector, there are still excellent jobs in healthcare, hospitality, and indirect positions that contribute to the economy. As a budget traveler and travel blogger, this is definitely the number one plus for living in Europe. California has the largest network of public schools of any US state, but you know what else? If you're not into surfing, no worries, there's plenty of other activities to choose from, like biking, hiking, fishing, snorkeling and much more. I appreciate any info/input you have. Overall, most people seem to be okay with living in Chico. Youll notice that there is a different flow to the traffic as well. Residents of urban areas may struggle with their mental health. The hills can wear out your legs if youre not used to them, but taking advantage of the weather and the natural beauty of the community makes for a wonderful experience. Its also home to some of the worst performing schools in the country. 25 Pros And Cons Of Living In Georgia (Updated 2023) - Home Mindset There may be a few flaws to living in Davis. 3. Tax ID:46-4347971, About BPN Contact BPN Credits Terms of Use, Connecting Bay Area families online since 1993, Daycares & Preschools with Current Openings, Parent Classes, Workshops & Groups with Openings, Advice about Classes, Camps, Groups, & Tutors. The pros of living in Davis include its tight-knit community, its proximity to several major California cities, and its commitment to education. I need to move out of here. Then you have the 7.25% state sales tax, which becomes 8.5% in San Francisco. 25 Pros and Cons of Living in San Diego There are many positive aspects of residing in San Diego including these that are worth mentioning: 1. - The Weather Northern California is home to a lot of wonderful weather. If you do get the urge to take a day trip, then you can head over to Yosemite, enjoy the sunshine on the peninsula, or take the four-hour drive (with good traffic) to Lake Tahoe for world-class skiing. Here are 5 benefits of living in California. My husband and I were starting to plan a move there at one point when we thought he'd be working in Sacramento; alas, that didn't come to fruition, but we were geared up and excited for Davis - you might want to check it out. 25 Pros And Cons Of Living In San Diego (Updated 2023) - Home Mindset If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. Costco is close by, and plenty of Starbucks. My biggest concern is the social aspect. This is a city that is often said to be a "love it or hate it" type . 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. You will always find people out with their pets during the day, enjoying the sunny weather in the city when it arrives. Disadvantages of a Living Trust Funding a Trust Is Expensive . I have 2 young sons and we absolutely love it here! I hope you found this post helpful. I love the East Bay especially Berkeley. Low crime. 22 Pros and Cons of Living in Canada! - Girl With The Passport Prices were lower there, but she believes theair quality from the refinery has affected their health and that of others she knows in the community. 20 HONEST Pros & Cons of Living in California - EMBRACE SOMEPLACE I think you would be much happier in Benicia; from what I know of Pinole, it is not what you seem to be looking for. Rental rates. 24+ Pros And Cons Of Living In California (You Must Know) We lived there for 10 years and I actually miss it tremendously. I dont know who can afford homes anymore. Copyright © 2023 Embrace Someplace | Privacy Policy | As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Another vote for the Amtrak Capitol from Martinez to Oakland. P.S. 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. The Capitol Corridor trains run several times each day, although the latest one to Oakland leaves Martinez at about 10:30 p.m. Another interesting fact is that San Francisco is one of the few large metro areas where Latinos are the majority ethnicity, with 39.1% of the population coming from this background. That means youll want to bring a jacket and an umbrella whenever you head out. But if you lived walking distance to downtown you would not see them. 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 Otherwise I personally would prefer not to be commuting to SF from Benicia or Martinez because of lack of transit options. This may be the most honest review of anything (period) Ive ever read on the internet. Thank you! It's essential to weigh the pros and cons of living in Wisconsin before moving there. Dont base your schedule on what it tells you. How safe is benicia? Explained by FAQ Blog Redding, California is a moderately-sized city with a population of 91,320 inhabitants. Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. Even when your goal is to get over to Oakland or down to San Jose, youre going to need to budget plenty of extra time to reach your destination. But moving here is a bad idea. Without any friends or family waiting for me there. Benicia is looking like where we might land. It's also fairly diverse (each person has their own definition of diverse, but as one point of evidence there are 35 different languages spoken at my child's public elementary school in Davis). You can also make it to Napa Valley in about an hour when heading to the north. Vallejo has a bad rap about crime; Benicia has a large oil refinery in town, with the environmental concerns that entails; you'd want to research each of those issues extensively, as well as your school options, before committing. One feature that Martinez has that Benicia does not have is a direct connection on Amtrak from Jack London Square (or West Berkeley). Thanks for your candor. Based on the housing stock, population density, and the proximity of amenities of the area. Heres the stats on traffic for the three most populous cities in California: Los Angeles horrendous traffic is known the world over and the proof is in the pudding. One of the reasons why it is feasible to get around San Francisco without a vehicle is because many of the employers in the Bay Area offer free shuttle services that you can use to get to work. If you prefer to look for a condo as a way to save some money, then the average cost of that option is $1.25 million. Thank you for helping me decide. San Diego: The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment clocks in at a steep $2,400 and the median home price is currently $765,000 (and rising annually). It's only fitting to consider the pros and cons of this popular decision-making tool: The Pros Rigor. Assuming that Benicia meets all of your requirements, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Benicia. You may want to check it out. I did a year-long stint in New York City and the harsh winter made leaving an easy choice. Benicia CA Real Estate - Benicia CA Homes For Sale | Zillow ben suarez bread / joseph wiley kim burrell / pragmatic theory of truth pros and cons. In total, more than 72% of the population is classified as married and 67% have kids. In San Francisco alone, tech accounts for 20.5% of all jobs, with the largest employers being Facebook, Netflix, Google, Yahoo, Apple and Tesla. She treated us super well and drove us around to give us a feel of the entire town. There is a direct transfer point to BART in Richmond. highest homeless populations in the country, most expensive cities in America for home buyers, 7 EPIC Places to Visit in Death Valley (With 4-Wheel Drive), 20 HONEST Pros & Cons of Living in Tucson (Locals Advice), 15 HONEST Pros & Cons of Living in Los Angeles, California. In just two years, the population reached 25,000 people. I dont see this improving anytime soon so when you move to California youll need to learn how to better conserve water. Colombia is a beautiful country and has much to offer. Especially a young woman. That being said, Benicia has O.K. Im a California native and have lived in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco over the past ten years. Moving back and priced out of Alameda - West CC or Solano County? 14 Pros and Cons of Living in Europe You Need to Know There are two NFL teams in the region as well. If you have any question, you can email me as well. There is an 'island mentality' I noticed; 'crossing the bridge' to the rest of the Bay Area just feels like a big deal to a Benician. Benicia, CA is a seaside town that people think of when they think "getaway vacation". There's even a bounce house for the kids! Select any tags that apply to this area. Google Maps likes to tell you when the next bus will arrive, but it is rarely accurate. I highly recommend Benicia. Pinole has a Peet's, In n Out, and a Trader Joe's. Living in PR means, you will be living in lines for everything as well. Even if you want a studio apartment, youre going to be paying more than $2,000 per month to live in the city. There are about 23.6 students per teacher in Benicia. Vallejo or Benecia for commuting to Sacramento? I think it is considered a ''safe'' town, and it is convenient to the Vallejo Ferry or casual carpool for commuting into the city. My husband works in Sacramento, and we want to move a bit closer to his work. 5. Youve really saved me Was planning on moving to California to work and study without help from no one But from tonehe look of things I think I wont be able to. pros and cons plural noun 1 : arguments for and against often + of Congress weighed the pros and cons of the new tax plan. SCHOOLS Benicia public schools spend $8,132 per student. However, it is a great middle ground for a road trip. Whether you head down to enjoy the Golden Gate Bridge, go across to see the redwoods, stay on the piers, or enjoy the unique culture, some people find that they can fill up their free time without ever going somewhere. Crime is crazy and cut backs on law enforcement has made it worse. 7. Pinole has easy access to the rest of the Bay Area but much more limited bay access. People tend to drive faster and with more aggression, so youll need to turn up your defensive driving skills a notch. 4. It can be a challenge to get used to the weather in San Francisco. You wont earn as much and may need to commute because of it, but you can typically come out ahead with the jobs here compared to what you can find in California or the rest of the country. 3. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The whole bus will start yelling at you too, so maybe dont be the first one out until you get used to the situation. San Francisco is renowned for its cultural diversity. Some may even offer excursions to other parts of the peninsula and the bay so that you can get out and about on your weekend. 20 Pros And Cons Of Living In Vancouver, BC Canada - Nina Out and About Thank you. Living in the city: Pros and cons - Common It was a film for San Francisco City Sights where I discussed the pros and cons of that Organization. For comparison purposes, the average price in the United States for the same space is about $1,175 per month. The claims of 60% will go to taxes are ludicrous- yes taxes are high, but not to the point of bankrupting you. Select any tags that apply to this area. Ive lived in Sacramento twice- fun times, but you never have much money to spare. Sorry Cali. MUNI is the public transportation system in San Francisco where you can hop onto a bus to get around the city. There are plenty of activities to enjoy when living in San Francisco. The refineries are all ''down wind'' and don't really have any impact on your quality of life. Enter California, a state that averages 260+ days of sunshine per year. I have heard very good things about the Cameron School, in El Cerrito,which offers speech therapy and preschool style classes for students who qualify in WCCUSD. The downtown is indeed walkable and quite charming, and right by the water. Carrie. The downtown area is pretty flat, so it is perfect for strolling around or bicycling. There are so many transplants here that its hard to pin down what a real Californian is these days so anyone can pass for one. Since Im being honest, Id like to point out that wildfires will become a part of your daily vocabulary while living in California. There is a very active moms club with about 130 members. The Pros and Cons of Revocable Living Trusts - The Balance 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! Feel free to email me! As someone that (briefly) considered moving to the Pacific Northwest, I cant even begin to fathom that challenge of living under a cloud most of the year.