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. When making a big move. 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. 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. Benicia has a violent crime rate of 99 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average. 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. This time however we will be moving due to a civilian job to Ventura. You may want to check it out. Both times we were military and received housing allowance. There is a significant issue with homeless and drug addiction in the city. San Francisco: A driver in San Francisco loses 97 hours a year to traffic, ensuring that yet another California city makes the list of top 10 cities with the worst traffic. I'm considering a move to Benicia in the next few months. There are many additional borrowing options available. 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. Im a California native and have lived in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco over the past ten years. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. If you are checking out out the area, don't skip Glen Cove, which is next to Benicia. My aunt lives in Sacramento and I refuse to visit her in summer because I just cant deal with the oppressing heat. But if you choose to live in a city further inland, you can expect blazing hot summers. Dont base your schedule on what it tells you. We live next to Benicia, but technically are zip coded as Vallejo. We will be renting. While there is a progressive faction in town, there is also a strong uh less progressive group. In fact, Los Angeles is the second most diverse cities in the country, second only to New York City. But if you lived walking distance to downtown you would not see them. 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. The downtown area is pretty flat, so it is perfect for strolling around or bicycling. 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. You will always find people out with their pets during the day, enjoying the sunny weather in the city when it arrives. Posted on February 27, 2023 by laguardia airport food terminal c Dont trust Google for your public transportation schedules. The schools are well-rated. Hi there,We are very excited and sad to be moving from our home in the Colorado Mountains to the Bay Area. You can also catch the NBA, NHL, and MLS when living in the city. beautiful parks and the social activities in town are always wonderful. Come to our farmers market and check out the town- every Thursday from 4-8. My friend who lives in Benicia says she would not make that decision again. Benicia has lots of open space, a state park on the water, and plenty of places to hike. If your teens are at all interested in sports, Benicia would be a great place for them! 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. Overall, most people seem to be okay with living in Chico. The best areas in Benicia and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. There are lots of job opportunities available in San Francisco. 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). Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. We moved to Benicia 2 1/2 years ago from Los Angeles. plus a bunch of chains and a handful of mom and pops. 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). Several businesses allow them as well, even if they are not a service animal. And the school are highly rated. You are welcome to email me if you have any questions. It can be a challenge to get used to the weather in San Francisco. We are also less than 20mins away from Napa. I appreciate any info/input you have. Hard to complain about that! The taxes should be taken into strong consideration while researching if moving to California is right for you because they will greatly reduce your overall take home pay. recommendations? you did not mention is the California Government. I dont know who can afford homes anymore. All she said is true. And 5 reasons not to live in California. The BART is a little bit of a hike, but doable. Thanks. At the beginning of 2021, the median home price was around $382,000. Even stores like Walgreens sell produce in the city. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. 24+ Pros And Cons Of Living In California (You Must Know) Characterized by the quintessential beaches, surging tides, the iconic Hollywood, palms trees, the Golden Gate Bridge, and so many more California is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable states in the United States of America. 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. We're moving to the north bay area in couple of months. Needless to say, the houses cost a lot less in Roseville! Cost of Living in Benicia, California Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. Great parks. For me, it would depend on what kind of town I want to live in, schools, etc. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. 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. Select a livability score between 1-100, 2. Thank you. Rental rates. That means youll want to bring a jacket and an umbrella whenever you head out. It's only fitting to consider the pros and cons of this popular decision-making tool: The Pros Rigor. Benicia cost of living is 158.3 100=National Average AVERAGE RENT BY BEDROOM SIZE Even if you want a studio apartment, you're going to be paying more than $2,000 per month to live in the city. 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. Our (only) son went off to OSU (Oregon)3 years ago. And these are just prices for flights! If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Redding ranks well for amenities (A+) and weather (B). Well I live in Placerville California and Ive lived in Yosemite and weed and a lot of different places and let me tell you that not all parts of the state have mild Winters or constant sunshine or High cost of living or poor performing public schools. Thanks again I really appreciate it. 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. The Lifestyle is Very Laid-Back Shorts, sunglasses, and sandals is the non-official uniform or "California look" of the Palm Springs lifestyle. I will likely take BART. Wow, the houses dont even look like they should be worth that much. Can you tell us about the schools? Commute from Benicia to SF is a two-bridge commute. Redding has a high percentage of people who are married with children when compared to the rest of the country. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. 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. Benicia is looking like where we might land. Very valuable information. An average meal for two at a mid-range restaurant is about $80, which is double the cost of what the national average is in the United States. Neighborhood define you in San Francisco. It really shows when you are out around town. In some areas the traffic isnt bad especially if you dont live in a big city. Every neighborhood has a couple of dog parks that offer an expansive area for leash-free running. Kelly, Hmm, well, I worked in Benicia for many years and was never seriously tempted to live there. I did a year-long stint in New York City and the harsh winter made leaving an easy choice. The state is overcrowded. There is a lot of activities that you can do in the city. 3. 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. It also is the place of events, like town parades that seem to come straight out of the movies! 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! But since there are many children in that town I never minded that they were agressive. When weighing the pros and cons of living in Dallas, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Youll notice that there is a different flow to the traffic as well. pros and cons plural noun 1 : arguments for and against often + of Congress weighed the pros and cons of the new tax plan. You do seem honest. They both have advantages of amazing views from many neighborhoods. Heres a quick breakdown of the median home prices for the three major cities in California: San Francisco: The median home price in San Francisco is $1.4 million and the city also has the highest rent in the country. Hmm. Strong and Growing Arts and Culture There is plenty of culture, art, and science to explore in San Diego, especially at Balboa Park. 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. Year after year, Los Angeles is ranked one of the 10 most congested cities in the country, with an estimated 103 hours a year spent in traffic for the average commuter. San Francisco was named one of the top 10 most beautiful cities in the world in 2019. Windemere has all the desired conveniences-including shopping, dining, freeways and BART. Benicia CA Real Estate & Homes For Sale 27 Agent listings 1 Other listing Sort: Homes for You 565 Lori Dr APT 5, Benicia, CA 94510 WARRING & ASSOCIATES $349,000 1 bd 1 ba 641 sqft - Condo for sale 424 Greenbrier Ct, Benicia, CA 94510 KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY-EAST BA $695,000 3 bds 2 ba 1,566 sqft - House for sale Loading. 5. My husband is a professional musician (piano player) who makes his living playing for famous(and not so famous) singers. MUNI is the public transportation system in San Francisco where you can hop onto a bus to get around the city. However, a high crime rate, high cost for shelter, and lagging economy might be a problem. 6. Thank you! It's affortable and close to Easy Bay. Living In. Hi there. Ive never done anything like this before. In the past year, appreciation rates for homes in the Benicia area were 5.8% and 5 year appreciation rates were 10.7%. 1. The cost of living in San Francisco is equally high. Median real estate prices in Redding come in at $232,000, which is 43.3% lower than the California average. There is plenty of fog that rolls through the city as well. 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. 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. The core downtown area is kinda cute, but Benicia's got it beat by a landslide. The best areas in Redding and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Explore the dramatic desert in the Mojave, the granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park, the towering trees in Redwood National Park or the rolling hills of Napa Valley and youll see what all the fuss is about. 1. Prices differ largely based on where in town accommodation is located, if all the bills are included (wifi, electricity, water, etc. Im glad Im not the only one feeling this. Taxes too high. 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. 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. 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. Yet, if people are looking for a vacation spot that is relaxing and welcoming, Benicia is it. In addition to the high sales and income taxes, California also has the highest gas prices in the country too. what if i am moving to cali for a decent paying tech job ? Happy in Benicia, We are considering a move to Benicia with our two small children. You can walk to the local park, but everything else is about 1.5 miles away. You can find plenty of small shops, museums, and points of interest that will captivate your attention. My goal is to be part of a pretty active community in a walkable charming old seaport town. Some costumes in the city are elaborate. 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. Therfore just to visit weekend ok but not to live in Cali. (Yikes!!) 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. Benicia ca - The Pros and Cons of Benicia California, Moving to Benicia ca. When you do need to travel somewhere, using an Uber or Lyft is still affordable. Benicia, CA is a seaside town that people think of when they think "getaway vacation". Low crime. We are from a small city in south florida. The cost of living in South Korea varies depending on the city one lives in. Pinole is OK. 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. California would have the fifth-largest economy in the world if the state were an independent nation. A commute of around 45 min from Valejo is ok. Also can you reccomend any good rental agents? Half Moon Bay is only thirty minutes to the east of the city. The Capitol Corridor trains run several times each day, although the latest one to Oakland leaves Martinez at about 10:30 p.m. P.S. In just two years, the population reached 25,000 people. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. Disadvantages of a Living Trust Funding a Trust Is Expensive . I take my daughter to a lot of activities in Benicia. That means you can use the money that youd spend on your car payment, automotive insurance, and fuel to ease the burden of your rental costs in the city. Sure, come visit for awhile. One thing I do miss about Berkeley/Oakland/Albany are the amazing restaurants, but my kids are little so we rarely go out anyway. SCHOOLS Benicia public schools spend $8,132 per student. 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. 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. Benicia has a livability score of 76 out of 100 and is ranked #160 in California and #4,047 in the USA. If you cant afford being here, even with a job offer, then maybe another destination is the right choice to make. 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. 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. We lived in Benicia for 10 yrs and we made the big mistake of moving away from it. This is a city that is often said to be a "love it or hate it" type . I hope you found this post helpful.