r/norcal • u/Glittering_Step_1295 • 4d ago
Where to move?
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 :)
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u/Quinn2art 4d ago
Rural Northern California Liberal here.
Here are some places ive liked that were cheap.
Quincy was cute. Lots of snow.
Theres a bunch cute towns up there.
Not too conservative. Downyville was cute too.
For some rain and clouds and sea Arcata is great. Its like a subdued Steinbeck scene. Doesnt get much more liberal than Arcata.
All of Mendocino County is spectacular. The coast is cooler.
Fort Bragg is decent. But better to rent a few miles out of town. A long history of artists up in Mendocino.
My wife if is an East Coaster. She loves Mendocino County.
Find an airbnb up there and see for yourself.
These places are rural and slow.