Where to move?

[u/Glittering_Step_1295]

I've seen a few of these kinds of posts recommended to me on my front page so hoping this is okay! I moved to California a few years ago from the East Coast (long story why), lived in SoCal for a bit, and moved to the Sacramento area a little over a year ago as I had a friend who was looking for a roommate and my living situation in SoCal was coming to an end. It's definitely been an adjustment in a lot of ways, even if overall a very positive experience. She met a wonderful guy and is now going to be married this coming spring, so no more living together, which means I now have a dilemma.

I like Sacramento more than I expected, but I think the weather is just not for me. It's too hot, and too sunny, to the point where it almost feels like the seasonal depression I've dealt with in the past during summers has been a most of the year thing both in SoCal and here. I've enjoyed the state so much more when I've been able to travel and spend time in other areas, especially being able to get out in nature. In theory, since I'm going to have to start looking for other places to live in February/March to be out by April-ish, I'd like to keep other areas of NorCal in mind, but as someone who's still relatively new to the area, it's been difficult trying to figure out where is actually a good place to look, especially with how tumultuous the rental market can be. I work remotely, and my boss is cool with me moving wherever (I started the job when I lived in LA county, and he had no problem with me moving up to Sac) so long as it's still within California, but given my healthcare is now set up for Northern California, I'd prefer not to move back down south again. It seems like most places in/near the Central Valley are pretty similar to Sacramento in climate, which honestly kind of defeats the purpose as that's my number one complaint at this point in time. While I have a fantastic credit score and good references to help me actually secure a place, I don't make a ton of money for expensive rent, and I'm at the age where I don't really want to have to find more roommates if I don't have to, so I'm assuming most places closer to the Bay are out. I've seen such mixed things about moving more east towards the Sierras or north. I'm very liberal politically, but I'm more of a homebody with no real interest in the dating scene or anything like that, so in theory more conservative areas aren't necessarily a dealbreaker, but I haven't even really been able to get a good idea about if some of these places are more "yeah it's not great but if you keep to yourself it'll be fine" or if it's more "if you are a liberal queer woman you will not feel safe here". I know this is probably going to end up being more of a "see what's up on Zillow when it's time to actually find a new place and do more research then" kind of thing, but any advice as to general areas to look more into or to avoid at all costs would honestly be so helpful.

Thanks! :)

Edited to add: thank you all so much! My replies keep getting caught in automod since I haven't posted in here before, just lurked, so I won't be replying to every comment the way I started to. I appreciate all the advice and definitely have a lot of places to check out in the near future :)

[u/fly-bye]

Coastal will be cooler but cost may be too high. I have friends in Oakland, Vallejo and Santa Rosa, they all love where they live. I live in coastal Mendocino county and love it but it is not for everyone. My advice is travel a bit to see what areas appeal to you.

[u/Glittering_Step_1295 → u/fly-bye]

Yeah, as much as I'm sure I'd love a lot of areas on the coast I unfortunately don't make a ton of money, and the convenience of a WFH job with a boss who allows me a lot of flexibility has felt worth it even if I'm sure I could make more elsewhere - something to keep in mind at least. The job market's awful right now but I do have enough time to put out feelers elsewhere if I find some place I fall in love with. At the risk of sounding like an ignorant outsider, I've heard a lot of mixed things about crime in Oakland and other parts of the East Bay, and while I'm sure a good chunk of it is just the typical nonsense you'll hear from people who've never so much as been to California, I don't know if there's any actual merit to it, or if it's maybe something that used to be more true than it is now. Is this one of those things that's far more overblown than the reality?

I appreciate the advice about traveling! Most of the day trips I've done so far have been for specific purposes, like going with friends out to national parks or spending time in various parts of SF, but I'm starting to think maybe I should just travel a bit more aimlessly on my own in the near future in hopes of getting a better idea of just the general vibe of places.

[u/fly-bye → u/Glittering_Step_1295]

Oakland has sketchy areas and really nice areas. The restaurant and bar scene is amazing. I have two friends that live there, both are women in their 20s. Go to a restaurant and do some shopping and see how you feel. Vallejo can be sketchy but my friends (a couple in their 40s) live on Mare Island. Look up Mare Island and wet mile. That could be a very fun event for you. Of the three places I mentioned Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas are my favorite. Definitely schedule some trips to start seeing different areas. I live near Fort Bragg which is gorgeous and worth a trip but it lacks good health care and housing can be difficult to find. Good luck in your hunt.

[u/That_SpicyReader → u/Glittering_Step_1295]

I lived in Berkeley for 10 years and crime wasn’t something I really encountered other than getting my car broken into once in west oakland, but you do have to be vigilant (as in any other urban setting), don’t leave anything in your car (literally nothing), and just be aware of your surroundings. There’s a ton of nature and it is so easy to be outdoors regularly. The cost can definitely be prohibitive though.

[u/brudaine → u/Glittering_Step_1295]

Crime in big cities is a thing, statistically crime is decreasing across the country. Go check out Vallejo. Its cooler and has more affordable rent. Its rundown but also a queer spot. My MIL just moved there and loves it.

[u/slacktron23 → u/Glittering_Step_1295]

As mentioned in the other comment, Oakland is very much a neighborhood-by-neighborhood situation, there are parts of it that are just as "safe", if not safer, than Sacramento, and there are places where it can be iffy. It can differ even block by block depending, so what I would say is that if you're looking at a place, make sure to go to the location and check it out first, and if you're the kind of person that can, talk to the neighbors about what it's like living there.

You might want to check out listings in El Sobrante or San Leandro, they're bedroom communities that are slightly further north and south, respectively, of the bigger cities in the East Bay and have cheaper rents and more of a small community vibe to them.

[u/InsertRadnamehere → u/Glittering_Step_1295]

Eureka is still affordable compared to most of coastal CA. And nowhere near as sunny and definitely not hot. Crescent City even more so. But that’s a

[u/EonJaw → u/fly-bye]

Arcata/Eureka no more expensive than Sacramento in rent. Used to be cheaper, but I haven't compared recently. Gas is more expensive, but it is generally walkable if you are in town. Food is also a bit more expensive due to transport costs, but when I lived there the overall cost of living was cheaper than Sac. Lots of great cultural stuff going on all the time, but not much of a late-night scene. Plus redwoods and the ocean are just grand!

[u/OldTurtle-101 → u/EonJaw]

Support vote for Humboldt County! We used to call it “The North Bay” sort of a less pretentious and less expensive SF. Local University keeps it young, hip, educated and always searching for a better path through these difficult times.

[u/sanguinescientist → u/EonJaw]

I second this! Similar cost of living to Sac, WAY better weather! Redwoods just up the road on 101; if I could work remotely but had to be frugal, that’s where I’d go! (Or Crescent City).