pros and cons of living in benicia, ca

Benicia City Hall, 250 East L Street Benicia, CA 94510 Phone: (707) 746-4200, Open: Monday - Thursday from: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and alternating Fridays, Finance Department Open: Monday Thursday from: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and alternating Fridays, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, Objective Standards for Mixed Use and Multifamily Housing, Public Information Bank - Hazardous Materials. Amy, Re: Kid friendly neighborhoods in the East Bay Benicia may be a bit too far North for you, but it is an amazing little treasure. Average temperatures vary by city, but by and large, you can expect highs around 69F in the winter and 80-85F in the summer. 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. Moving back and priced out of Alameda - West CC or Solano County? The median sale price is $407,500, which is lower than neighboring state of California. I like it a lot and it is definitely walkable and has a lot of charming small businesses on 1st street. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. We lived in California in the past two other times, once in Lompoc and other in Monterey. Every neighborhood has a couple of dog parks that offer an expansive area for leash-free running. There is always the threat of an earthquake to consider in the city. Our initial concern about this town is that there is a refinery , but it hasn't bothered us at all since we've been here (about 6 months). The public schools in Benicia are highly rated. Antioch reminds me of Elk Grove now. Benicia is known to be family friendly as more than 76% of the population has already tied the knot. You have people working in Silicon Valley making six figures, but living out of their vehicle because they cant find a place they can afford. Can you tell us about the schools? California is a beautiful state California is often considered the most beautiful state in the country and it's not hard to see why. Thank you! First Street is completely blocked off and it is filled with people in the holiday spirit. California is home to nine national parks, which means it has more national parks than any other state in America, including Alaska! it seems that everyone who lives here knows how special this place is and wants to take care of it. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. Overall, most people seem to be okay with living in Chico. Kelly, Hmm, well, I worked in Benicia for many years and was never seriously tempted to live there. There are plenty of opportunities for you to create a startup in this environment as well. Chose Glen Cove over Benicia, Re: Safe, family--oriented neighborhood? Whenever I visit other cities, Im constantly met with enjoy your visit, but dont move here which stopped being funny in 2010. With a livability score of 62/100, Redding is ranked #21,245 in the United States and #856 in California. If you have advice on Napa, please post ! For me, it would depend on what kind of town I want to live in, schools, etc. Sacramento is underrated as a city---it's really on the upswing as people migrate their to escape the prices in the Bay. Over the past 10 years, theres been a unified anti-California resentment in other states where residents blame Californians single-handedly for the rise in home prices across the country. He arranges charts, rehearses and plays shows(mostly Cabaret and standards). I believe you have given an honest look at what to expect when moving to California. We currently live in LA and are pre-retirement. what if i am moving to cali for a decent paying tech job ? If so, youll be joining many other Californians in the most populous state in the country. This may be the most honest review of anything (period) Ive ever read on the internet. It tends to be in the 50s in December, around the 80s in the summer, and youre going to get plenty of rain thanks to its position near the water. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. If you do, we have the highest gas prices in the nation, along with the high insurance costs that are required by law (as it should be) or you cant register your vehicle. Not others. 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. Thanks. The pros and cons of living in San Francisco will always look at the cost first. 9. Can you share your insights? You displayed the positive of moving to California and the negative alike. We're moving to the north bay area in couple of months. In fact, most of my friends and neighbors in LA were part-time actors who spent most of their free time looking for gigs. is it still impossible to buy a house ? Looking for a light filled home close to hiking/walking trails. 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. Please. Also people say move to Texas- rethink that- not only are prices going up there, but the weather SUX with humidity, heat, and no mountains so escape to, no snow skiing. Wefeel close to everything but also far away, if that makes any sense. Pro: The NHS Means (Mostly) Free Healthcare Con: But It's Super Slow Pro: Cheap Airlines Mean More Travel Con: But Expensive Visas Mean Less Accessibility Pro: Easy Access to Europe Con: Brexit and Politics Pro: Snow is Nothing Compared to Canada Con: The Weather is Miserable Pro: Adorable Cottage Homes We're hoping for diversity, for a whole approachthat is not hyper focused on testing (art, music, theater valued as well as academics), and not huge amounts of homework every night. 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. Both cities are relatively well-run, as these things go; I'd give Pinole the administrative edge. Please keep in mind that this is a personal list, not everyone will feel the same way. I know that not everyone will agree with this sentiment, but I find the people in California to be kind. I find, though, that it is a great place for us empty nesters, too. - The Weather Northern California is home to a lot of wonderful weather. Well, maybe Nevada City! If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. Thanks again I really appreciate it. 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 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. Have you looked at Benicia? Benicia offers an abundance of leisure and recreational activities. Rent is ridiculous and taxes will take up to 60% of your income. We will be renting. MUNI is the public transportation system in San Francisco where you can hop onto a bus to get around the city. Without any friends or family waiting for me there. We are also less than 20mins away from Napa. Yet another thing to be mindful of while living in California are the constant droughts. Permanent residents can receive medical for free or at extremely low costs. Ive never done anything like this before. Expensive energy costs; the cost of gasoline and electricity is very high in California compared to other states. When James Marshall discovered gold in the area, a surge of people came to make their fortune. Cons of living in Nevada 1. There is a nice little downtown area, and a lot of activities sponsored by the park and recreation (you can check out their brochure on-line). At this point, anyone living in California knows that wildfires are inevitable during the summer and we actually plan around them. That places it just one spot behind Los Angeles and one spot ahead of Switzerland yes, the country. Google Maps likes to tell you when the next bus will arrive, but it is rarely accurate. I had that experience originally being from wine country area. Hi there Thanks a lot for that, it was very informative and helpful. If people are looking for a place to go that has a lot to do, Benicia is not the place to go. Much of the homework appears to be driven by parent demand for "rigorous" academics, so that even the teachers I know who recognize the dubious value of homework in elementary feel compelled to issue substantial homework packets. Great parks. The median household income in California is among the best in the nation at $77,000 (as of June 2019). 10 Pros And Cons Of Living In California To get us rolling. Gas is also usually $1-$2 more a gallon than most other states. Hard to complain about that! The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. You have to drive to Concord or Fairfield for a Trader Joes, and the closest Whole Foods is in Napa or Walnut Creek. We just moved there from Oakland in February and absolutely love it! Perhaps one of my favorite things about living in California is the constant sunshine. There are also several celebrations that you can only find in San Francisco, such as Fleet Week and Bay to Breakers. Pros of Living in Palm Springs The desert resort city of Palm Springs is the axis point of affordable California living and full-scale luxury amenities. Theres only one word of caution: not every landlord permits pets, so youll want to ask in advance before bringing your pup along for this adventure. But which state is best to stay for a loner like me who has zero support from any angle. From the striking sunny coastline of Southern California to the towering cliffs of Big Sur, youll be privy to every natural wonder in between. I dont see this improving anytime soon so when you move to California youll need to learn how to better conserve water. The bridge commute isn't that bad, depending on timing. Unless you live in a high-elevation area, youll seldom see snow and can count on sunshine even in the dead of winter. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. Not as familiar with the central county high schools. The economy in San Francisco keeps humming along. Pinole Valley is safe, family-friendly, and diverse. You will also find some amazing mountains and wonderful outdoor activities. Have you ever consider Benicia? 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. In some areas the traffic isnt bad especially if you dont live in a big city. Regardless, I hope you find it helpful. Even stores like Walgreens sell produce in the city. Several businesses allow them as well, even if they are not a service animal. I would crack up when the ''water view'' was looking at the refinery, but there are plenty of houses that do have a real water view. The crime rate is high; 20.3%, 3 times (in 100,000 people) more than the entire US itself. Im terrified. There are clearly many advantages of living in the city. Benicia is very family oriented with lots of parks and a weekly farmers market that has a petting zoo with pony rides. It would be fair to say that the city residents have a love-hate relationship with this service and most days, its more of the latter. A con. Hi I'm a mom with two teen boys. At present, California is the worst state in the country for fire dangers. 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. We actaully have a daughter who goes to a school in North Berkeley so I drive down everyday. The median home price for Benicia homes is $475,500, which is 16.2% higher than the California average. Fitness is a priority in San Francisco. All three of the major cities in California clock in as some of the most expensive cities in the entire country. Although you'll want to leave early in the day to avoid traffic issues, the central location means a day trip can help you to avoid lodging expenses. 8. This will be a big change for us. 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. Benicia is in Solano County. This makes me sad as a returning native of 6 years. And the scenery is amazingly beautiful! Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Redding are simply unattainable. In Benicia there are a lot of parks. It has excellent schools - all but one are California Distinguished Schools and are actually in the top nationwide. According to the most recent Census, 72% of Benicia residents are White, 12% Asian and 6% Black. As you look at each state you will see some common themes. House very expensive old features. 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. 8. I think the town has more of what you're looking for. Despite devastating fires and earthquakes in its early history, the people rebuilt the city to make it the wonderful place it is today. One thing I do miss about Berkeley/Oakland/Albany are the amazing restaurants, but my kids are little so we rarely go out anyway. It is 45 minutes from San Francisco, three hours from Lake Tahoe, an hour from Napa, and 15 minutes from Concord, that has a vibrant night life. There are a lot of gorgeous aspects of San Francisco to love, but the issues the city has with heroin and meth are quite problematic. And it's one of the most underrated, which means it's not as full of tourists as other places, like Montreal and Vancouver. Living in PR means, you will be living in lines for everything as well. Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California Benicia, California Benicia, CA is #21 on the list Top 100 Best Places to Raise a Family in the West in 2023 Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California according to Data Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California in reviews from users in their own words: Do you live in Benicia, California? There are about 23.6 students per teacher in Benicia. This could be due to factors like a faster pace of life . 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. An amount below 100 means Benicia is cheaper than the US average. SCHOOLS Benicia public schools spend $8,132 per student. I can highly recommend Pinole. 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. 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. Then spend time in the bay area on weekends. It is a wonderful small town.Good schools. See, I can't say enough good things about it. I dont know who can afford homes anymore. Like wills, living trusts (formally known as revocable trusts) list the people who will receive your property after you die, leaving you free to manage it while you're alive. Benicia offers an abundance of leisure and recreational activities. 2. 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. The road tripping opportunities are endless, you can spend days at the beach or peruse a plethora of museums or attend world-class events. I also have found from talking to my artsy friends who grew up in Benicia that they felt fairly isolated as teenagers because they were just that little bit too far from Berkeley/San Francisco and most teen activities were focused around sports. Friendly people. My Aunts house I have been staying over for a while costs over $950,000 and its a middle class house. It really is a beautiful hidden gem in the Bay Area and I feel lucky to live here! 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. Waisting paycheck to move to Cali. You can walk to the local park, but everything else is about 1.5 miles away. Benicia is a small, family-friendly town and we have lots of fun downtown activities for families and teens. I am a teacher in an adjacentschool district and know many, many teachers who work for Benicia Unified. All this to say, unless youre working in a high-paying field, you may find the cost of living in California unrealistic, especially if youre moving to California from a small city. My husband works in Sacramento, and we want to move a bit closer to his work. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Benicia or Martinez for commute to Oakland? Hello and welcome to the Bay! Obviously there are always going to be exceptions to the rule, but by and large, I feel welcomed in California in a way I dont feel welcome elsewhere. So youre moving to California with the intention of buying a home? Benicia is by far more attractive with a larger historic district downtown and more view corridors of the bay. I'd suggest spending a full day in each. 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. So Im thinking of relocating to California, myself. Immigrationgeez. 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). You can find work with Netflix, Google, Facebook, Apple, Tesla, and others if you have the correct skill set. Your not my dream state. A reasonable cost of living, good schools, family-friendly activities, and decent weather are the major draws to the city. My husband & I moved to Benicia with our 13-year-old son more than 33 years ago. Year after year, California tops the list as having the most devastating fires in the country and the trend seems to be getting worse nearly 12 million acres were burned in 2020 alone. Hi there. Those are awful places to live with skewed statistics on crime and things because it isnt a total picture of this great state. A lot of people don't even know Benicia exists, but it was the state capital in the 1850's so has some interesting history. We were looking for a family friendly community with good schools in the area and we stumbled upon Benicia. Good luck with your search! You are welcome to email me if you have any questions. It would be fair to say that the Bay to Breakers festival is more like a second Halloween for adults to enjoy. 30 Pros and Cons of Living in the UK 1. If helpful, below is a chart that show the effective California state income tax depending on your income bracket. A waterfront City of 28,000, Benicia is known for its small-town charm, history, and high quality of life. Benicia is a moderately-sized city located in the state of California. Neither town is great for commuting to Oakland. 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. My 'husband' and I want to move to either Benicia or Pinole. There is a direct transfer point to BART in Richmond. Benicia is one of the the best places to raise a family in the Bay Area right now. Hear what they say to your face then listen closely what they say behind your back. In addition to being a great spot in the state of Georgia, it is also a great spot in the United States. Admittedly, most of California has a Mediterranean climate with pleasant humid-free summers, especially cities that line the coast. Savannah Savannah is one of the most popular cities in Georgia. I hope you found this post helpful. Climate. Rent too high. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and the overall sense of community. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. We have a Trader Joe's, Sprouts, Peet's etc. Benicia is looking like where we might land. It seems we can afford Benicia, Martinez and parts of Concord. BART to downtown Oakland. It's a fantastic place to raise your kids! 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.. My biggest concern is the social aspect. 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. Sorry Cali. Hope this helps! All the advantages of Benicia at Vallejo housing prices. The core downtown area is kinda cute, but Benicia's got it beat by a landslide. San Francisco is renowned for its cultural diversity. 1. 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. Just an FYI that Amtrak runs from Martinez to Jack London Sq in Oakland - so that might be another option. 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. Pinole is OK. Does anyone have any negative or positive experiences with the above, especially the refinery. Heres a real-life example: A close friend of mine works for Patagonia and jokes that suits are all but banned from the company. Im 25 now and I guess I can say that its not the easiest for me to make new connections. 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. If you are trying to get somewhere during rush hour, then you need to avoid all of the highways at all costs. It's 20 plus minutes to the Bay Bridge and 10 mins or so to Walnut Creek so it's not a bad commute and there is a ferry service into the city. (Great Pyrenees and Newfoundland; excellent conversation starters in their own right). My aunt lives in Sacramento and I refuse to visit her in summer because I just cant deal with the oppressing heat. The hipsters tend to stay in the Mission district, and then youll find the blue collar folks down by the Marina. Specialties: 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments in San Ramon, CA Welcome to Muirlands at Windemere Apartments! I take my daughter to a lot of activities in Benicia. That said, groceries, utilities, public transport and even alcohol are all reasonably priced compared to the prices in most Western countries. The year over year appreciation rates in Redding were 4.4%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 6.4%. People are very interested in each other and generally extremely friendly. My hubby will be working in vallejo. However, there can be some health disadvantages. Unlike wills, trusts require that you give up direct ownership of that property. Here are 5 benefits of living in California. While knowing about the availability of Disney parks is useful, it would not be my reason for moving across the country to pay high taxes. We are looking in Novato, Petaluma, Santa Rosa or Fairfield/Vacaville, Concord areas. The city has a population of 27,780 people. Conveniently located amenities and interesting attractions are a great way to continuously enjoy Redding on a regular basis. Having said that, in the state of California, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! The downtown main street is popular with visitors and residents walking their dogs. We lived in Benicia for 10 yrs and we made the big mistake of moving away from it. Those with a degree in Bachelor of Engineering earn $103,528 on average and Ph.D. holders make an average of $115,087. Although there are free parking options outside of the city center, the average monthly rate to keep your vehicle stored while you work comes to about $310 per month. 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. The state is overcrowded. Commute from Benicia to SF is a two-bridge commute. However, it can be a little too hot for some. If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Redding ranks well for amenities (A+) and weather (B). Sales tax is the highest in the nation. Hmm. Pros and cons of living in Wisconsin: Bottom line. In addition to the high sales and income taxes, California also has the highest gas prices in the country too. 5. My goal is to be part of a pretty active community in a walkable charming old seaport town. She's lived in Benicia for over 30 years, I think, so she is really knowledgeable about the area, and she never, ever pressured us. Housing prices everywhere are just off the charts! The housing market in San Francisco is pricing everyone out. 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. The Pros And Cons Of Living In Each State. Instead, it's normally transferred, or "retitled," into the trust. Living in Redding, CA Redding, California is a moderately-sized city with a population of 91,320 inhabitants. There is a neighborhood for everyone here, and most people can integrate into almost any living situation. Like do people carpool from Benicia to BART? 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. These are the pros and cons of living in San Francisco today that are worth considering. Our main worries are the refinery, convicts and sound from the Amtrak/freight trains. 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). I can't really think of anything negative. The best ride of all is the ferry from Mare Island Channel but it only goes to Alameda and by way of SF. As for life in California? The Davis Farmers' Market has been named the best in the country, and for good reason. The community is warm and friendly, the schools are very good, there are many (!) Re: Moving to a cheaper area now that kids are gone If you want to eat out while living in the city, then be prepared to pay much more than what the average American spends for the privilege. You dont even need to make a drive to a national park if youre not feeling up to it because youll still be privy to incredible nature that surrounds most cities in California, this is a nature enthusiasts dream. Compare today's top mortgage and refinancing providers. California has the largest network of public schools of any US state, but you know what else? Find a loan that's right for you. I was born and raised in the East Bay. Select a livability score between 1-100, 2. The North Bay is really a great place to live. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Benicia, well see that the home price to income ratio is 5.5, which is 14.1% lower than the California average. Housing prices are comical (well, they would be if they werent reality). Manage Settings 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. 6. Another really fun event is the Tree Lighting Ceremony. 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. 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. One of the reasons why the housing market and rental costs are so high in San Francisco is because the economy is strong, diverse, and consistent. Overall, Valero is the economic engine of town - largest employer, taxpayer, etc. I need to move out of here. Are people dying by the hands of the government in California or did I miss something? Thank you for helping me decide. The Amicalola Falls are among the biggest, and they are a popular attraction for Georgia residents to check out and enjoy. When you can make ends meet, you will find that this city is one of the most magical places to be on the planet. Most restaurants tailor their menus to healthy eating instead of huge portions of high-carb foods. Feel free to email me! ben suarez bread / joseph wiley kim burrell / pragmatic theory of truth pros and cons. 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. People will generally move to the US for better education or well-paying jobs. The weather is always nice enough in San Francisco to get outside, so youll see people enjoying the outdoors through hiking and cycling. Ive lived in Sacramento twice- fun times, but you never have much money to spare. But these are the things most people are looking for. Not each of them applies to every state. But if you lived walking distance to downtown you would not see them. I think Hercules High is pretty strong (that is my school district). 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 commute of around 45 min from Valejo is ok. Also can you reccomend any good rental agents?