The claims of 60% will go to taxes are ludicrous- yes taxes are high, but not to the point of bankrupting you. Are people dying by the hands of the government in California or did I miss something? When weighing the pros and cons of living in Dallas, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. 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. 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. Vallejo or Benecia for commuting to Sacramento? At present, California is the worst state in the country for fire dangers. You might even say that socialization doesnt really happen unless you bring your dog along. Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. There are two NFL teams in the region as well. With a livability score of 62/100, Redding is ranked #21,245 in the United States and #856 in California. The pros and cons of living in San Francisco will always look at the cost first. Suburb Population 27,191 I think Hercules High is pretty strong (that is my school district). The cost of living in South Korea varies depending on the city one lives in. 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. The Davis Farmers' Market has been named the best in the country, and for good reason. We have a Trader Joe's, Sprouts, Peet's etc. I believe you have given an honest look at what to expect when moving to California. Your not my dream state. Pinole is not too far from the Rodeo refinery although I don't recall ever smelling it. Enter California, a state that averages 260+ days of sunshine per year. I mean, its no coincidence that California has more national parks than any other state and draws millions of visitors annually. I worked a few years in downtown Benicia commuting from Berkeley this combo. Not each of them applies to every state. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Benicia are simply unattainable. 8. We considered buying in Benicia around this time last year. Just my opinion. However, high salaries are offset by a high cost of living. 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. 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. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. The Economic Life Puerto Rico is more about social life than economics. If you want to rent in San Francisco, then you can expect to pay a lot for that option too. Traffic and homeless is not something to fun to see they are in need of help but no one can. Can you share your insights? 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. 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.. The bridge commute isn't that bad, depending on timing. Ive lived in Sacramento twice- fun times, but you never have much money to spare. It might also be worth noting that 63% of residents also have children under the age of 18. There's even a bounce house for the kids! That said, groceries, utilities, public transport and even alcohol are all reasonably priced compared to the prices in most Western countries. If you have any question, you can email me as well. Making the effort to think through all possible pros and cons of a given course of. It's only fitting to consider the pros and cons of this popular decision-making tool: The Pros Rigor. 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. - CON: Expensive non-essentials Every neighborhood has a couple of dog parks that offer an expansive area for leash-free running. It also is the place of events, like town parades that seem to come straight out of the movies! Taxes too high. Benicia offers an abundance of leisure and recreational activities. And 5 reasons not to live in California. Sure, come visit for awhile. Youll have a plethora of Micheline-Star restaurants and phenomenal cheap eats to choose from. Colombia is a beautiful country and has much to offer. We will be renting. 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. 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. Benicia is a moderately-sized city located in the state of California. But because of it's smaller size and little room for growth, it doesn't have some of the more popular stores like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, nor does it have much recreation, like bowling or a theater, so it's a bit inconvenient to have to go to Vallejo or across the bridge for some of those things. Im terrified. 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. 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. Pros of Living in Australia One of the many benefits of living in Australia is its healthcare. I have worked for both cities but not lived in either. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The schools are well-rated. California would have the fifth-largest economy in the world if the state were an independent nation. This goes hand-in-hand with the relaxed vibe. 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. The median price for a single-family home in the city was $1.65 million in May 2019. This could be due to factors like a faster pace of life . It would be fair to say that the Bay to Breakers festival is more like a second Halloween for adults to enjoy. Additionally, Barcelona enjoys a bit more than 2500 hours of sunshine a year - about average for the south of Europe. I take my daughter to a lot of activities in Benicia. Crime is crazy and cut backs on law enforcement has made it worse. All Rights Reserved. Unless you live in a high-elevation area, youll seldom see snow and can count on sunshine even in the dead of winter. We are from a small city in south florida. Those are awful places to live with skewed statistics on crime and things because it isnt a total picture of this great state. We also have friends in Roseville who absolutely love its family-friendliness and easy light rail commute into downtown Sac. Everything from fashion to film and tech is covered pretty well in California, so you honestly wont have much a reason to be bored. Although I have never lived there, I have visited Davis a lot, and suspect that on a daily basis, it's more like Berkeley/Oakland/Albany than either Benicia or Vallejo. California is a car-centric state and you will absolutely need to have a car while living in California because things are spread far apart. Select a livability score between 1-100, 2. Have you considered Benicia? 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. Friendly people. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. Ideal places in Sonoma County to move with a toddler, Looking to relocate/Schools & Commute in Hercules, Concord, Martinez. If youre planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, its nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. And the scenery is amazingly beautiful! 5. We're moving to the north bay area in couple of months. You can find work with Netflix, Google, Facebook, Apple, Tesla, and others if you have the correct skill set. 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). Perhaps one of my favorite things about living in California is the constant sunshine. At least you wont be shoveling snow by the foot like people to the north are during the winter months from the same storms. Also, I am not aware of any arts scene in Pinole, though of course I could be wrong. Thanks again, really appreciate it . The perks of living in San Francisco are almost endless. I spent some time there when we lived in the East Bay because there's a Chuck E. Cheese there that my kids liked, plus there was a Catholic shop downtown that I frequented on occasion. Quality schools. Im looking for input on areas that have nice high schools(safe). it seems that everyone who lives here knows how special this place is and wants to take care of it. Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. 7. In just two years, the population reached 25,000 people. Benicia is right on the water, so there are many small beaches to stroll along, and there is a long pier that is a popular place to walk down. 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. 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. We lived in Benicia for 10 yrs and we made the big mistake of moving away from it. (Yikes!!) I would love feedback. There are also several celebrations that you can only find in San Francisco, such as Fleet Week and Bay to Breakers. There are two Macy's stores near Benicia - one in Concord (about 15 miles away) and the other in Fairfield (also about 15 miles away.) 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. I can't really think of anything negative. The landscape is as diverse as it gets and changes drastically from north to south. Or is there a bus? (Great Pyrenees and Newfoundland; excellent conversation starters in their own right). 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. People are very interested in each other and generally extremely friendly. 80 bus from VTC to Del Norte BART. People tend to drive faster and with more aggression, so youll need to turn up your defensive driving skills a notch. Benicia has a violent crime rate of 99 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average. My biggest concern is the social aspect. San Diego: On average, vehicle trips take 60% longer during rush hour in San Diego. Benicia or Martinez for commute to Oakland? Benicia fan. 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. 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. Living in PR means, you will be living in lines for everything as well. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It has wonderful parks, a great community, very good public schools and the town itself is just a gem. 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. Redding, California is a moderately-sized city with a population of 91,320 inhabitants. There are many additional borrowing options available. Monica, My family is hoping to buy a home soon. Pinole has easy access to the rest of the Bay Area but much more limited bay access. They both have advantages of amazing views from many neighborhoods. Benicia is a small town on the carquinez strait bordering Vallejo.