pros and cons of living in benicia, ca

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. If so, youll be joining many other Californians in the most populous state in the country. In regards to smells or whatever from the oil refinery, we were probably there about a half dozen times for several hours each time, and we never smelled anything. Are people dying by the hands of the government in California or did I miss something? There is a lot of activities that you can do in the city. This may be the most honest review of anything (period) Ive ever read on the internet. JL. Traffic inside of the city it difficult to manage at almost any time of day including the overnight hours. For comparison purposes, the average price in the United States for the same space is about $1,175 per month. I suggest that you try looking at Davis. I was born and raised in the East Bay. 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. Even if you cook every meal at home, youll need to budget at least $420 per person, which is over $100 more than the national average. Weather In Colombia. We also have friends in Roseville who absolutely love its family-friendliness and easy light rail commute into downtown Sac. First Street is completely blocked off and it is filled with people in the holiday spirit. Property values in both places took a major dive during the recession. Canada is Beautiful Let's face it - Canada is one of the most Instagrammable (read, stunningly beautiful) places in the world. It has excellent schools - all but one are California Distinguished Schools and are actually in the top nationwide. The cost of living in South Korea varies depending on the city one lives in. Compare today's top mortgage and refinancing providers. Not as familiar with the central county high schools. Theres so much of the state that is not La San Francisco San Diego. I can highly recommend Pinole. People will generally move to the US for better education or well-paying jobs. But if you lived walking distance to downtown you would not see them. Fitness is a priority in San Francisco. There are about 23.6 students per teacher in Benicia. You may want to check it out. Not each of them applies to every state. 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. 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 lots of job opportunities available in San Francisco. Chose Glen Cove over Benicia, Re: Safe, family--oriented neighborhood? There are tons of community events, it is very safe, has that small-town feeling and is still affordable. We just made new friends sitting on the sidewalk, sipping an adult beverage with our dogs at our feet. The country supports a universal system, and expats can expect to receive high-quality care while living here. Sure, come visit for awhile. Cons of living in Nevada 1. Taxes are high in San Francisco, but this disadvantage applies to the entire state of California. I am sure things have changes since I left permanently in 1996 but Sacramento has so many suburbs so there maybe a neighborhood that is similar to Berkeley? I appreciate any info/input you have. Too many people; California being one of the most populated cities makes people scramble for the limited space in the area. My biggest concern is the social aspect. Im terrified. Yet, if people are looking for a vacation spot that is relaxing and welcoming, Benicia is it. . I only was able to buy a house the 2nd time due to moving there during the recession- the same house I bought for $210 in 08 now would go for around $400K- it was only 1,200 sq ft. Id like to move back, but my salary of just over 100K just really wont cut it most anywhere- at least to buy a descent house that isnt a 500K shack! Some places in Florida have been ranked 8% lower to 18% higher in cost compared to the average American city. However, a high crime rate, high cost for shelter, and lagging economy might be a problem. Moving back and priced out of Alameda - West CC or Solano County? People don't care about each other. The landscape is as diverse as it gets and changes drastically from north to south. But it could be different on some days; I'm not sure. Dictionary Entries Near pros and cons prosaist pros and cons Prosarthri See More Nearby Entries Cite this Entry Style I was orig from CA. Thanks to its temperate climate, it is also one of the best walking communities in the United States. 7. 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. California is not the place you want to come to without knowing anybody. Here are 5 benefits of living in California. This goes hand-in-hand with the relaxed vibe. I hate to burst your bubble, but lets look at the numbers. Based on the housing stock, population density, and the proximity of amenities of the area. Happy in Benicia, We are considering a move to Benicia with our two small children. 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. Ive been living with roommates for a few years now, Btw, it will be relevant only in about a year and a halfe, I have to finish my degree here first, but I still want to wrap my head around it and I would love to get your input. Assuming that Redding meets all of your requirements, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Redding. Long days, regardless of mode of travel. San Francisco was named one of the top 10 most beautiful cities in the world in 2019. Hi there Thanks a lot for that, it was very informative and helpful. Not sure which area would be best. We're moving to the north bay area in couple of months. In total, more than 72% of the population is classified as married and 67% have kids. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. 1. A cost of living index above 100 means Benicia, California is more expensive. Then, if your bus is going through Chinatown, expect a lengthy delay. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Redding: Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and Sacramento River Trail. If you dont have a car, public transportation is the breeding ground for all the above. The city has a population of 27,780 people. Lucky for me, California is home to 12 international airports (including LAX, the second largest airport in America). According to the most recent Census, 72% of Benicia residents are White, 12% Asian and 6% Black. 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. 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. If youre considering moving to California and settling further from the coast, understand that the average summer temperature exceed 95F and 100F+ days are not uncommon. We are looking in Novato, Petaluma, Santa Rosa or Fairfield/Vacaville, Concord areas. Living in California is a tale of extremes extreme wealth and extreme poverty. The best ride of all is the ferry from Mare Island Channel but it only goes to Alameda and by way of SF. Pros of Living in Australia One of the many benefits of living in Australia is its healthcare. Whether youre moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Benicia could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to look. The hipsters tend to stay in the Mission district, and then youll find the blue collar folks down by the Marina. There are plenty of activities to enjoy when living in San Francisco. If you are trying to get somewhere during rush hour, then you need to avoid all of the highways at all costs. Crime is crazy and cut backs on law enforcement has made it worse. Manage Settings Well done, well said and bravo for being honest. Benicia, CA is a seaside town that people think of when they think "getaway vacation". The culture is also backwards in the South, things you thought were fashionable as a given- be it clothing, music, even lingo- often dont even exist there. We really like the look of homes in downtown Martinez and our commute to Richmond on the 4. 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). Parking is a significant problem as well. For me, it would depend on what kind of town I want to live in, schools, etc. Suburb Population 27,191 A reasonable cost of living, good schools, family-friendly activities, and decent weather are the major draws to the city. The public schools in Benicia are highly rated. We arevery attached to living within the Bay Area, hence we would love to get your recommendation. If youre in the film industry you probably already know that Los Angeles is the place to be. The Lifestyle is Very Laid-Back Shorts, sunglasses, and sandals is the non-official uniform or "California look" of the Palm Springs lifestyle. it seems that everyone who lives here knows how special this place is and wants to take care of it. European settlers first started coming to San Francisco Bay in the early 19th century, but it wouldnt be until 1828 when Jedediah Smith crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains that permanent settlements were considered in the area. The core downtown area is kinda cute, but Benicia's got it beat by a landslide. Kathy, Re: considering a move to Sacramento There are unique offerings in each area, with a lot of pros and cons to consider with each one, but there are also stereotypes that youll want to consider. It seems we can afford Benicia, Martinez and parts of Concord. You really arent a true resident of the city until youve seen someone walking down the street naked. 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. There are clearly many advantages of living in the city. Whenever I visit other cities, Im constantly met with enjoy your visit, but dont move here which stopped being funny in 2010. Looking for a light filled home close to hiking/walking trails. The refineries are all ''down wind'' and don't really have any impact on your quality of life. #5. We lived in California in the past two other times, once in Lompoc and other in Monterey. Specialties: 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments in San Ramon, CA Welcome to Muirlands at Windemere Apartments! The pros of living in Davis include its tight-knit community, its proximity to several major California cities, and its commitment to education. I had that experience originally being from wine country area. About half of the buses also require that you step down into the steps to get the back door to open. In fact, California usually ranks as the worst 10-states for public education. 2. He arranges charts, rehearses and plays shows(mostly Cabaret and standards). Benicia seems to have a condensed downtown with a nice mix of businesses, Pinole is closer to the city and looks to have its downtown more spread out, but also a very cultural, thriving community. I need to move out of here. Davis makes the most sense. In Benicia there are a lot of parks. There is plenty of fog that rolls through the city as well. 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. Most points in downtown Martinez are (for those without mobility limitations) within walking distance of the Amtrak station. San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living . Wefeel close to everything but also far away, if that makes any sense. Fairfield is probably 20 minutes away and Vacaville is about 30 minutes away. 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. The downtown is indeed walkable and quite charming, and right by the water. The town is very laid back, so the police officers seem to jump on any violation where they can. This could be due to factors like a faster pace of life . You have to drive to Concord or Fairfield for a Trader Joes, and the closest Whole Foods is in Napa or Walnut Creek. 80 bus from VTC to Del Norte BART. The town puts on wonderful holiday celebrations and the entire town comes out to celebrate. Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living. #3. I love the East Bay especially Berkeley. Calculated annually per 100,000 residents. 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. Several businesses allow them as well, even if they are not a service animal. 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. The United States would annex California in 1846, with the USS Portsmouth sailing into San Francisco Bay to raise the American flag. 8. About Benicia. Even stores like Walgreens sell produce in the city. The median home price for Benicia homes is $475,500, which is 16.2% higher than the California average. Great parks. Cost of Living in Benicia, California Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. Those are awful places to live with skewed statistics on crime and things because it isnt a total picture of this great state. Even having a sourdough bread bowl filled with chowder while enjoying a view of Alcatraz makes for a memorable day. Alongside million dollar homes, youll find tent cities and folks living in doorways and streets. Thank you. Redding, California is a moderately-sized city with a population of 91,320 inhabitants. I really feel like Pinole is one of the "best kept secrets" here in the Bay, and my husband and I joke that it must have a cloaking device on it or something. 30 Pros and Cons of Living in the UK 1. 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. Those with a degree in Bachelor of Engineering earn $103,528 on average and Ph.D. holders make an average of $115,087. Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 6.1%. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Though it is a suburb of Vallejo, it is significantly different. I originally thought I could work primarily from home, but now it appears I will have to go into the office in downtown Oakland several times a week. The community often has little events that are great for meeting new people. 4. 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. People in urban environments are more likely to suffer from anxiety and mood disorders than people in other locations. We currently live in LA and are pre-retirement. In addition to the high sales and income taxes, California also has the highest gas prices in the country too. By the 1870s, the first cable cars began to operate, providing a public transportation option for a city that reached a population of 150,000 people. Some costumes in the city are elaborate. Enter California, a state that averages 260+ days of sunshine per year. 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. Our kids are 15, 13, 11 and 8, so high school, middle and elementary. Youll notice that there is a different flow to the traffic as well. I live in Benicia. Find a loan that's right for you. Its also home to some of the worst performing schools in the country. The median household income in California is among the best in the nation at $77,000 (as of June 2019). (Great Pyrenees and Newfoundland; excellent conversation starters in their own right). Therfore just to visit weekend ok but not to live in Cali. Benicia is by far more attractive with a larger historic district downtown and more view corridors of the bay. P.S. I'm wondering if being in Martinez would actually save that much time compared with Benicia. When you move to California, one thing will become clear very quickly California is proof that climate change is real. There is no way I can be a home owner in this day and age. Benicia fan. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Benicia, we'll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.5, which is 14.1% lower than the California average. It also feels much less crowded here than it does everywhere else. Any information would be greatly appreciated! The Davis Farmers' Market has been named the best in the country, and for good reason. In Redding, the home price to income ratio is 5.2, which is 18.8% lower than the California average. There is a neighborhood for everyone here, and most people can integrate into almost any living situation. 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. 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). Our main worries are the refinery, convicts and sound from the Amtrak/freight trains. Neighborhood define you in San Francisco. The road tripping opportunities are endless, you can spend days at the beach or peruse a plethora of museums or attend world-class events. A wonderful place to raise a family! 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. 2. My husband works in Sacramento, and we want to move a bit closer to his work. Official Website of the City of Benicia, California. Antioch reminds me of Elk Grove now. It all sounds like fun to move but when youre actually far from your old surrondings and family then it can be pretty frightening at the least. You are welcome to email me if you have any questions. 4. Friendly people. Living In. The best areas in Redding and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. I think you are priced out of El Cerrito if you want to keep it under $700k, but should be able to get something nice in Pinole ifyou move quickly when you see a house you like. happy empty nesters. I memorized a script. In the past year, appreciation rates for homes in the Benicia area were 5.8% and 5 year appreciation rates were 10.7%. This goes hand-in-hand with the constant sunshine, but California has some of the mildest winters in the country. 9. I work for Macys and am scared to death to drive out there (foolish I Know) . The whole bus will start yelling at you too, so maybe dont be the first one out until you get used to the situation. In San Francisco alone, tech accounts for 20.5% of all jobs, with the largest employers being Facebook, Netflix, Google, Yahoo, Apple and Tesla. Benicia ca - The Pros and Cons of Benicia California, Moving to Benicia ca. Our oldest grandson (who is 20 years old) graduated from Benicia High School and is doing extremely well in college. 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. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Redding are simply unattainable. If you have a dog that is coming with you to San Francisco, then both of you are in for a fantastic time. It doesn't feel very diverse and it doesn't really feel like it's part of the Bay Area proper. If you are moving to the area with your family, then Noe Valley tends to be the place where you end up. I can't really think of anything negative. One thing you quickly learn after moving to California is that you will never go hungry. If you have advice on Napa, please post ! Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. BART to downtown Oakland. 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! You have access to cabs, bicycles, scooters, buses, trollies, and light rail so that you can access almost any part of the city. MUNI is the public transportation system in San Francisco where you can hop onto a bus to get around the city. San Francisco is one of the best dog-friendly cities in the United States. 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. It is very much a small town. Benicia is a small, family-friendly town and we have lots of fun downtown activities for families and teens. JOJ, Re: affordable housing While there is a progressive faction in town, there is also a strong uh less progressive group. If you decide to start living here, then youll want to make sure that there is an emergency kit available for immediate access. Ive never done anything like this before. You are a short drive from some of the best places in California. The City of Benicia is a Bay Area City located adjacent to the Carquinez Strait, which is part of San Francisco Bay. Also, yoga culture is huge in San Diego. Im looking for input on areas that have nice high schools(safe). Many employers offer free shuttles and other transportation services. If your teens are at all interested in sports, Benicia would be a great place for them! The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. Housing prices everywhere are just off the charts! Unless you live in a high-elevation area, youll seldom see snow and can count on sunshine even in the dead of winter. 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. Benicia has a refinery and on occasion you can smell it. Also, I am not aware of any arts scene in Pinole, though of course I could be wrong. It continues to be one of the worst and deadliest earthquakes in U.S. history. Hello and welcome to the Bay! Living in Benicia offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Our (only) son went off to OSU (Oregon)3 years ago. Most restaurants tailor their menus to healthy eating instead of huge portions of high-carb foods. Living in PR means, you will be living in lines for everything as well. Today Id like to share my list of the honest pros and cons of living in California. Kelly, Hmm, well, I worked in Benicia for many years and was never seriously tempted to live there. Thanks. but not great in my opinion restaurants, and there are only local stores such as Raley's or Safeway. 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. 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. The claims of 60% will go to taxes are ludicrous- yes taxes are high, but not to the point of bankrupting you. 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