4. Therfore just to visit weekend ok but not to live in Cali. My friend who lives in Benicia says she would not make that decision again. I am a teacher in an adjacentschool district and know many, many teachers who work for Benicia Unified. If you want to rent in San Francisco, then you can expect to pay a lot for that option too. Rental rates. That places it just one spot behind Los Angeles and one spot ahead of Switzerland yes, the country. (Yikes!!) 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. He called the area Yerba Buena, and it became a popular destination for Americans in the 1840s. I will likely take BART. Although technically anyone can live anywhere and find a reasonable level of acceptance, youll want to research the different neighborhoods in San Francisco to see where your comfort zone is going to be. Pros of Living in Palm Springs The desert resort city of Palm Springs is the axis point of affordable California living and full-scale luxury amenities. One feature that Martinez has that Benicia does not have is a direct connection on Amtrak from Jack London Square (or West Berkeley). We will be renting. 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. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. Looking for a light filled home close to hiking/walking trails. Several businesses allow them as well, even if they are not a service animal. If you want to eat out while living in the city, then be prepared to pay much more than what the average American spends for the privilege. Even if you want a studio apartment, youre going to be paying more than $2,000 per month to live in the city. By 1900, that figure had doubled again. The United States would annex California in 1846, with the USS Portsmouth sailing into San Francisco Bay to raise the American flag. Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. Especially a young woman. You do seem honest. 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. Without any friends or family waiting for me there. Living in Benicia offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. California would have the fifth-largest economy in the world if the state were an independent nation. The 1906 earthquake that devastated San Francisco was estimated to be 7.9 8.25 with extreme shaking. Dont trust Google for your public transportation schedules. Hard to complain about that! This could be due to factors like a faster pace of life . 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. Waisting paycheck to move to Cali. 19 Pros and Cons of Living in San Antonio, Texas, 17 Pros and Cons of Living in Sarasota, Florida, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. Property values in both places took a major dive during the recession. I don't think I could ever find a more lovely town. Great parks. Then, if your bus is going through Chinatown, expect a lengthy delay. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Benicia: Benicia State Capitol and Historical Park, Benicia State Recreation Area, and Benicia Historical Museum. Not too cold either. 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. 4. Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Benicia has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. This may be the most honest review of anything (period) Ive ever read on the internet. Overall, Valero is the economic engine of town - largest employer, taxpayer, etc. . Benicia is by far more attractive with a larger historic district downtown and more view corridors of the bay. 14 Pros of Living in Vancouver, BC PRO: YVR is a fantastic airport Pro: Amazing schooling Pro: Shopping haven Pro: It's home to Stanley Park Pro: You'll always find food trucks Pro: Plenty of fun sporting events Pro: You don't need to know French Pro: The nightlife Pro: Relatively moderate weather Pro: Easy access to nature Any information would be greatly appreciated! There are also several celebrations that you can only find in San Francisco, such as Fleet Week and Bay to Breakers. 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. 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. Davis makes the most sense. I take my daughter to a lot of activities in Benicia. California is home to nine national parks, which means it has more national parks than any other state in America, including Alaska! Some costumes in the city are elaborate. Perhaps one of my favorite things about living in California is the constant sunshine. Pinole has a Peet's, In n Out, and a Trader Joe's. Quality schools. Chose Glen Cove over Benicia, Re: Safe, family--oriented neighborhood? In just two years, the population reached 25,000 people. Thanks. However, it is very much an island mentality, insular/small community, and you have to cross a bridge at $5/pop to get to the Bay Area. Posted on February 27, 2023 by laguardia airport food terminal c The schools are well-rated. If you have advice on Napa, please post ! Using data from weather, employment, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the California and national averages. If you choose the back part of Pinole Valley, you get to send your daughter to Ellerhorst, which is a very good school. Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. There are clearly many advantages of living in the city. There are tons of community events, it is very safe, has that small-town feeling and is still affordable. 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. (Great Pyrenees and Newfoundland; excellent conversation starters in their own right). Costumes are a way of life in San Francisco. We have three grandsons (ages 12, 14, and 16) who are currently attending the Benicia schools and they are all doing well and the quality of their education is excellent. Redding has a high percentage of people who are married with children when compared to the rest of the country. Benicia fan. Sure, come visit for awhile. Kelly, Hmm, well, I worked in Benicia for many years and was never seriously tempted to live there. 5. If you decide to start living here, then youll want to make sure that there is an emergency kit available for immediate access. 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. It really shows when you are out around town. California has the largest network of public schools of any US state, but you know what else? ben suarez bread / joseph wiley kim burrell / pragmatic theory of truth pros and cons. Disadvantages of a Living Trust Funding a Trust Is Expensive . It's a fantastic place to raise your kids! Whether you head down to enjoy the Golden Gate Bridge, go across to see the redwoods, stay on the piers, or enjoy the unique culture, some people find that they can fill up their free time without ever going somewhere. This disadvantage can theoretically apply to anyone living along the western coast of the United States, but there are more tremors in San Francisco that you can feel when compared to other locations. 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.) 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! A wonderful place to raise a family! It is a wonderful small town.Good schools. The Economic Life Puerto Rico is more about social life than economics. As a budget traveler and travel blogger, this is definitely the number one plus for living in Europe. 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. The train goes along the Bay Shore, looking out at the Golden Gate. However, high salaries are offset by a high cost of living. Pros of Living in Australia One of the many benefits of living in Australia is its healthcare. P.S. 2. I can highly recommend Pinole. Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Specialties: 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments in San Ramon, CA Welcome to Muirlands at Windemere Apartments! 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. 6. Crime is crazy and cut backs on law enforcement has made it worse. I'm wondering if being in Martinez would actually save that much time compared with Benicia. Good luck with your search! Yes, Florida is much cheaper than California because the cost of living is just 1% higher than the national average. 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. Thanks again, really appreciate it . Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. At this point, anyone living in California knows that wildfires are inevitable during the summer and we actually plan around them. Our budget is around $2200 a month. We also have friends in Roseville who absolutely love its family-friendliness and easy light rail commute into downtown Sac. Most of the people we know here in Pinolego into the city or Oakland/Berkeley pretty regularly, whereas most of the people we know in Benicia don't really seem to like to cross the bridge. I suggest that you try looking at Davis. It is a family oriented community with many kid-friendly events (family movie night in the park once a month in summer, children's art festival in the park, street fairs, parades, farmer's market on thursday nights, swimming pool, classes and camps through the parks and recreation department, good library events). The North Bay is really a great place to live. But since there are many children in that town I never minded that they were agressive. There are plenty of activities to enjoy when living in San Francisco. One thing you quickly learn after moving to California is that you will never go hungry. Could u please share your views about moving to Texas? Colombia is a beautiful country and has much to offer. The year over year appreciation rates in Redding were 4.4%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 6.4%. Thank you for helping me decide. Unless you live in a high-elevation area, youll seldom see snow and can count on sunshine even in the dead of winter. Our main worries are the refinery, convicts and sound from the Amtrak/freight trains. If you are trying to get somewhere during rush hour, then you need to avoid all of the highways at all costs. 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. The majority of Redding residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and American Indian and Alaskan. I can't really think of anything negative. If you want to save some cash by ditching the vehicle, then San Francisco has you covered with its public transportation system. The discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots is painstakingly clear on the streets and practically impossible to avoid while living in California. It's definitely cheaper than Berkeley, safe, quiet, but with a great ''old town'' downtown. 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. Some places in Florida have been ranked 8% lower to 18% higher in cost compared to the average American city. One of the reasons why the housing market and rental costs are so high in San Francisco is because the economy is strong, diverse, and consistent. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Using data from crime, cost of living, weather, employment, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the California and national averages. The best areas in Benicia and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. 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.