Yet, if people are looking for a vacation spot that is relaxing and welcoming, Benicia is it. The community often has little events that are great for meeting new people. Since Im being honest, Id like to point out that wildfires will become a part of your daily vocabulary while living in California. If youre planning on moving to California, heres a quick recap of the pros and cons of living in California. Ive never done anything like this before. Traffic inside of the city it difficult to manage at almost any time of day including the overnight hours. 20 Pros and Cons of Living in Halifax, Canada Pro: It's One of the Most Beautiful Places Nova Scotia is one of the most beautiful provinces in Canada. Property values in both places took a major dive during the recession. Right now not for something specific like work or study, I just really need the change. Today Id like to share my list of the honest pros and cons of living in California. I know that not everyone will agree with this sentiment, but I find the people in California to be kind. (Yikes!!) 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. . If you choose the back part of Pinole Valley, you get to send your daughter to Ellerhorst, which is a very good school. All three of the major cities in California clock in as some of the most expensive cities in the entire country. Crime is crazy and cut backs on law enforcement has made it worse. We live next to Benicia, but technically are zip coded as Vallejo. Moving to California means leaving behind bitter winters and freezing temperatures, which greatly improves my quality of life. We lived in Benicia for 10 yrs and we made the big mistake of moving away from it. Could u please share your views about moving to Texas? 19 Pros and Cons of Living in San Antonio, Texas, 17 Pros and Cons of Living in Sarasota, Florida, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. It was a film for San Francisco City Sights where I discussed the pros and cons of that Organization. The train goes along the Bay Shore, looking out at the Golden Gate. You can find work with Netflix, Google, Facebook, Apple, Tesla, and others if you have the correct skill set. is it still impossible to buy a house ? The majority of Redding residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and American Indian and Alaskan. You may want to check it out. She developedasthma after moving there. The income tax rate is one of the highest in the country at 12.3%, even though that rate only applies to taxable income above $572,000. 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. Canada is Beautiful Let's face it - Canada is one of the most Instagrammable (read, stunningly beautiful) places in the world. It's affortable and close to Easy Bay. There are about 23.6 students per teacher in Benicia. There is a significant issue with homeless and drug addiction in the city. Sign up for a yoga class on the beach and see what all the hype is about. Instead, it's normally transferred, or "retitled," into the trust. Even though there was a lag in growth for the first time in forever in 2018, the rental market in San Francisco is insane and the housing market isnt any better. Although the high school has a strong arts program, overall the district spends a lot of time and emphasison test prep and there is significant homework starting in Kindergarten. You have to drive to Concord or Fairfield for a Trader Joes, and the closest Whole Foods is in Napa or Walnut Creek. 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. The North Bay is really a great place to live. If youre in the film industry you probably already know that Los Angeles is the place to be. My husband is a professional musician (piano player) who makes his living playing for famous(and not so famous) singers. 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. Especially a young woman. I couldnt agree more! There is always the threat of an earthquake to consider in the city. Hi there. A couple of them are atypical learners/creative types. There is plenty of fog that rolls through the city as well. All three of Californias major cities rank as being some of the most diverse in America. 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. Hands down, one of my favorite things about living in California is the diversity of the people. Windemere has all the desired conveniences-including shopping, dining, freeways and BART. Then spend time in the bay area on weekends. 1. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. People from Benicia drive to Pleasant Hill BART if they're going to take BART. I highly recommend Benicia. In total, more than 72% of the population is classified as married and 67% have kids. The price of most rentals is very reasonable and the houses are very nice. Im glad Im not the only one feeling this. Regardless, I hope you find it helpful. 3. But since there are many children in that town I never minded that they were agressive. 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. It is a wonderful small town.Good schools. The median home price for Benicia homes is $475,500, which is 16.2% higher than the California average. With the new Benicia Bridge that opened late last year the commute to Contra Costa County is a breeze. Apparently, there hasn't been a day below freezing since 1985. And 5 reasons not to live in California. We are from a small city in south florida. I like it a lot and it is definitely walkable and has a lot of charming small businesses on 1st street. If we take a look at the data, we can find out why. One thing I do miss about Berkeley/Oakland/Albany are the amazing restaurants, but my kids are little so we rarely go out anyway. As another poster mentioned, with either Benicia or Martinez you would have to drive to Pleasant Hill Bart. and a Pain It generally costs more time and money to set up and fund a revocable living trust than to simply write a willas much as three times more, at least initially. A commute of around 45 min from Valejo is ok. Also can you reccomend any good rental agents? A wonderful place to raise a family! Good Stuff. I'm considering a move to Benicia in the next few months. I worked in Benicia for 5 years (commuting from Berkeley), and spent time in Vallejo for work purposes during that job. Benicia offers an abundance of leisure and recreational activities. 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 Wow, the houses dont even look like they should be worth that much. My goal is to be part of a pretty active community in a walkable charming old seaport town. JOJ, Re: affordable housing Living in Benicia offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. My biggest concern is the social aspect. Did you ever live in any other state for any amount of time? There are plenty of opportunities for you to create a startup in this environment as well. This may be the most honest review of anything (period) Ive ever read on the internet. Whenever I visit other cities, Im constantly met with enjoy your visit, but dont move here which stopped being funny in 2010. It is very safe and family oriented. However, it is a great middle ground for a road trip. Rental rates. Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. You will need to deal with the tax situation when living in San Francisco. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Get some big dogs and move to Benicia! And it's one of the most underrated, which means it's not as full of tourists as other places, like Montreal and Vancouver. Thanks. So if you plan on raising a family while living in California, account for the cost of private school as well because the public schools leave much to be desired. As you can imagine, theres definitely pockets of homogeneous areas and neighborhoods, but if you dont live in the ritzy part of town, youll find it easy to make friends with people from different backgrounds and walks of life. If you want to save some cash by ditching the vehicle, then San Francisco has you covered with its public transportation system. Personally, I would not want to live in so isolated a place as Benicia, but I know plenty of people who love it. Checking rates won't affect your credit score. The landscape is as diverse as it gets and changes drastically from north to south. The economy across the entire Bay Area is on fire right now. Have you ever consider Benicia??? It really shows when you are out around town. If you are trying to get somewhere during rush hour, then you need to avoid all of the highways at all costs. 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. A waterfront City of 28,000, Benicia is known for its small-town charm, history, and high quality of life. The cost of living in Nevada is also lower than in many other states. I think the town has more of what you're looking for. That said, groceries, utilities, public transport and even alcohol are all reasonably priced compared to the prices in most Western countries. Hi! We are looking in Novato, Petaluma, Santa Rosa or Fairfield/Vacaville, Concord areas. Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. We are also less than 20mins away from Napa. SCHOOLS Benicia public schools spend $8,132 per student. Everyone loves it; its pristine coastline, picturesque vineyards, wineries, and snow-clad Sierra Nevada Range which maintains its warm weather perfectly. Perhaps one of my favorite things about living in California is the constant sunshine. We actaully have a daughter who goes to a school in North Berkeley so I drive down everyday. This time however we will be moving due to a civilian job to Ventura. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and the overall sense of community. Spacious new 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartment homes offer high-quality kitchen appliances, private patios or balconies and plentiful storage. Its also home to some of the worst performing schools in the country. Taxes are high in San Francisco, but this disadvantage applies to the entire state of California. The Capitol Corridor trains run several times each day, although the latest one to Oakland leaves Martinez at about 10:30 p.m. Our oldest grandson (who is 20 years old) graduated from Benicia High School and is doing extremely well in college. Over 80% of the city was destroyed at the time, 3,000 people were killed, and 250,000 were left homeless. Select any title to view the full question and replies. It continues to be one of the worst and deadliest earthquakes in U.S. history. Never noticed till gone for awhile, but a lot of the kindness and friendliness is a phoney act. A reasonable cost of living, good schools, family-friendly activities, and decent weather are the major draws to the city. California has some of the country's most beautiful beaches and with more than 800 miles of coastline you're going to have a lot to choose from. When you do need to travel somewhere, using an Uber or Lyft is still affordable. The Amicalola Falls are among the biggest, and they are a popular attraction for Georgia residents to check out and enjoy. There are also several celebrations that you can only find in San Francisco, such as Fleet Week and Bay to Breakers. 2. Friendly people. Wefeel close to everything but also far away, if that makes any sense. As for life in California? Additionally, Barcelona enjoys a bit more than 2500 hours of sunshine a year - about average for the south of Europe. 1. We looked at a lot of houses in Benicia. Copyright © 2023 Embrace Someplace | Privacy Policy | As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I did a year-long stint in New York City and the harsh winter made leaving an easy choice. 4. 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. California would have the fifth-largest economy in the world if the state were an independent nation. 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. 3. Pros of Living in California: The Amazing Weather That Always Brings a Smile to Your Face: There is no one I can find who complains about California's weather. There's even a bounce house for the kids! The BART is a little bit of a hike, but doable. But if you lived walking distance to downtown you would not see them. Hope this helps! The United States would annex California in 1846, with the USS Portsmouth sailing into San Francisco Bay to raise the American flag. When I worked there, the people I knew who commuted to SF typically drove to Pleasant Hill BART, parked there, and took BART from there. Thanks. Low crime. It has wonderful parks, a great community, very good public schools and the town itself is just a gem. Then you have the 7.25% state sales tax, which becomes 8.5% in San Francisco. I dont know who can afford homes anymore. Otherwise I personally would prefer not to be commuting to SF from Benicia or Martinez because of lack of transit options. Thank you! Everything from fashion to film and tech is covered pretty well in California, so you honestly wont have much a reason to be bored. Benicia has a violent crime rate of 99 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average. And the school are highly rated. Los Angeles and San Francisco are international hubs with awesome dining options, but many of the smaller cities have restaurants worth writing home about too. 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. Happy in Benicia, We are considering a move to Benicia with our two small children. I can highly recommend Pinole. And these are just prices for flights! There might be a neighborhood for everyone to find in San Francisco, but where you choose to live is going to become the definition of who you are. There are lots of job opportunities available in San Francisco. As you look at each state you will see some common themes. Benicia, California . The discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots is painstakingly clear on the streets and practically impossible to avoid while living in California. 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. See, I can't say enough good things about it. Great parks. Posted on February 27, 2023 by laguardia airport food terminal c If I had to guess, Id probably say its not realistic unless you have a hefty savings account. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. There is more access to healthier food choices, including the presence of several farmers markets throughout the city. In some areas the traffic isnt bad especially if you dont live in a big city. Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living. Assuming that Redding meets all of your requirements, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Redding. 8. There are two NFL teams in the region as well. While the state offers many benefits, such as natural beauty, a strong sense of community, and a low cost of living, there are also potential downsides, such as harsh winters and high property taxes. Living in PR means, you will be living in lines for everything as well. California is often considered the most beautiful state in the country and its not hard to see why. Can you share your insights? It is very much a small town. Because of the citys location near fault lines, there is always the lingering threat of the Big One that exists in residents minds. If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. All the advantages of Benicia at Vallejo housing prices. We arevery attached to living within the Bay Area, hence we would love to get your recommendation. Are you thinking about moving to California? So youre moving to California with the intention of buying a home? So Im thinking of relocating to California, myself. The bridge commute isn't that bad, depending on timing. Youll discover that not only is it one of the best sports-related metro areas in the country, but San Francisco offers several cultural options as well. Here are 5 benefits of living in California. If people are looking for a place to go that has a lot to do, Benicia is not the place to go. Then, if your bus is going through Chinatown, expect a lengthy delay. 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). The core downtown area is kinda cute, but Benicia's got it beat by a landslide. I would suggest one of you nail down your job first and pick the area to buy in second, because if you end up working in Oakland, that's a more reasonable commute from all those communities. Most expats find that living in South Korea is an efficient way to save money. ), and of course the accommodation itself. I would strongly recommend Benicia if you guys were looking for a traditional affluent suburban experience with traditional schools, but it doesn't sound like that is what you want. Neither town is great for commuting to Oakland. 30 Pros and Cons of Living in the UK 1. 80 bus from VTC to Del Norte BART. Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. 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. An added bonus is that the town is located right on the water so you can see the ships go by, etc. Thank you for helping me decide. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The schools are well-rated.