Not sure which area would be best. There's even a bounce house for the kids! You will find people in the city throughout the entire year where trying to figure out if that is what they usually wear or they are dressed up for a specific occasion. I was orig from CA. Living in the city: Pros and cons - Common The downtown area is pretty flat, so it is perfect for strolling around or bicycling. If your teens are at all interested in sports, Benicia would be a great place for them! I am sure things have changes since I left permanently in 1996 but Sacramento has so many suburbs so there maybe a neighborhood that is similar to Berkeley? San Diego: On average, vehicle trips take 60% longer during rush hour in San Diego. We arevery attached to living within the Bay Area, hence we would love to get your recommendation. One of the reasons why it is feasible to get around San Francisco without a vehicle is because many of the employers in the Bay Area offer free shuttle services that you can use to get to work. What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Chico, CA? The pros and cons of living in San Francisco will always look at the cost first. All the advantages of Benicia at Vallejo housing prices. We absolutely love this community!! 14 Pros and Cons of Living in Europe You Need to Know Benicia has an overall crime rate of 14 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. 1. Thanks again I really appreciate it. Benicia is no more than 10 minutes from Vallejo. (Yikes!!) An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. Benicia is a small town on the carquinez strait bordering Vallejo. 3. Although its gotten more expensive (like everywhere else) this last year, its still affordable compared to other nice parts of the Bay Area. Pinole has a Peet's, In n Out, and a Trader Joe's. 1. I also have found from talking to my artsy friends who grew up in Benicia that they felt fairly isolated as teenagers because they were just that little bit too far from Berkeley/San Francisco and most teen activities were focused around sports. There may be a few flaws to living in Davis. The price of most rentals is very reasonable and the houses are very nice. 6. We have a cute little downtown with a great library and community pool, awesome parks and playgrounds, good schools, a great Farmers market every Thursday on the main drag, a neat artist community, and wonderful people in general. Most points in downtown Martinez are (for those without mobility limitations) within walking distance of the Amtrak station. 35 Pros and Cons of Living in the UK: Should You - Nina Out and About If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. There is a neighborhood for everyone here, and most people can integrate into almost any living situation. You can also catch the NBA, NHL, and MLS when living in the city. Living in California is a tale of extremes extreme wealth and extreme poverty. There is a very active moms club with about 130 members. Yet another thing to be mindful of while living in California are the constant droughts. The cost of housing is "cheaper " compared to some bay area locations. 80 bus from VTC to Del Norte BART. Ive lived in Sacramento twice- fun times, but you never have much money to spare. Perhaps one of my favorite things about living in California is the constant sunshine. It tends to be in the 50s in December, around the 80s in the summer, and youre going to get plenty of rain thanks to its position near the water. The claims of 60% will go to taxes are ludicrous- yes taxes are high, but not to the point of bankrupting you. Just my opinion. Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California Benicia, California Benicia, CA is #21 on the list Top 100 Best Places to Raise a Family in the West in 2023 Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California according to Data Pros and Cons of living in Benicia, California in reviews from users in their own words: Do you live in Benicia, California? We considered buying in Benicia around this time last year. It continues to be one of the worst and deadliest earthquakes in U.S. history. Yet, if people are looking for a vacation spot that is relaxing and welcoming, Benicia is it. We will be renting. It's also fairly diverse (each person has their own definition of diverse, but as one point of evidence there are 35 different languages spoken at my child's public elementary school in Davis). People in the city take this issue very seriously. About Benicia. Canada is Beautiful Let's face it - Canada is one of the most Instagrammable (read, stunningly beautiful) places in the world. Hello and welcome to the Bay! You'll have access to amenities like an extensive trail system . Benicia is a suburb of Vallejo with a population of 27,191. 5. If there is anything else you like to know please email me at aware1967 [at] yahoo.com. If helpful, below is a chart that show the effective California state income tax depending on your income bracket. Immigrationgeez. I think Hercules High is pretty strong (that is my school district). A cost of living index above 100 means Benicia, California is more expensive. Yet another perk of living in California is seldom feeling rushed. Pinole is not too far from the Rodeo refinery although I don't recall ever smelling it. We also have friends in Roseville who absolutely love its family-friendliness and easy light rail commute into downtown Sac. Dont base your schedule on what it tells you. People there either take the 80 express bus to SF, or drive to Del Norte BART, park there, and BART into SF from there. Despite devastating fires and earthquakes in its early history, the people rebuilt the city to make it the wonderful place it is today. If you're looking for a broker, the woman we worked with, Brenda Turner-Adams, was awesome. The best areas in Benicia and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. The median home cost in Benicia is Real Estate: $763,400. Feel free to email me! 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. California is a pay to play state, theres no way around it. The United States would annex California in 1846, with the USS Portsmouth sailing into San Francisco Bay to raise the American flag. Pros of Living in Australia One of the many benefits of living in Australia is its healthcare. Not too cold either. However, it can be a little too hot for some. Housing prices are comical (well, they would be if they werent reality). If you're not into surfing, no worries, there's plenty of other activities to choose from, like biking, hiking, fishing, snorkeling and much more. Unless you live in a high-elevation area, youll seldom see snow and can count on sunshine even in the dead of winter. It is a wonderful small town.Good schools. Quality schools. Even having a sourdough bread bowl filled with chowder while enjoying a view of Alcatraz makes for a memorable day. An added bonus is that the town is located right on the water so you can see the ships go by, etc. On a less positive note, Benicia does not have favorable scores for the following: cost of living (F) and housing (D). Hands down, one of my favorite things about living in California is the diversity of the people. Fitness is a priority in San Francisco. Admittedly, most of California has a Mediterranean climate with pleasant humid-free summers, especially cities that line the coast. As for life in California? Are people dying by the hands of the government in California or did I miss something? JOJ, We live in Benicia and really like it. I love the East Bay especially Berkeley. Here are 5 benefits of living in California. The core downtown area is kinda cute, but Benicia's got it beat by a landslide. Im 25 now and I guess I can say that its not the easiest for me to make new connections. A commute of around 45 min from Valejo is ok. Also can you reccomend any good rental agents? I'm considering a move to Benicia in the next few months. Human trafficking is ramped. Costco is close by, and plenty of Starbucks. Rent is ridiculous and taxes will take up to 60% of your income. Selecting a category below will take you to another page. I worked a few years in downtown Benicia commuting from Berkeley this combo. Suburb Population 27,191 From the amazing landscapes to the diversity, to the warmth of the people and the low cost of living. In some areas the traffic isnt bad especially if you dont live in a big city. It's affortable and close to Easy Bay. 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. Too many people; California being one of the most populated cities makes people scramble for the limited space in the area. If you choose the back part of Pinole Valley, you get to send your daughter to Ellerhorst, which is a very good school. 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). At present, California is the worst state in the country for fire dangers. I couldnt agree more! Pros and cons of living in Wisconsin: Bottom line. 5. The traffic in San Francisco is legendarily terrible. When you can make ends meet, you will find that this city is one of the most magical places to be on the planet. 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. The median home price for Benicia homes is $475,500, which is 16.2% higher than the California average. All this to say, unless youre working in a high-paying field, you may find the cost of living in California unrealistic, especially if youre moving to California from a small city. Is California A Good Place to Live? Pros and Cons of Living in Compared to the United States average, Benicia ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Benicia City Hall, 250 East L Street Benicia, CA 94510 Phone: (707) 746-4200, Open: Monday - Thursday from: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and alternating Fridays, Finance Department Open: Monday Thursday from: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and alternating Fridays, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, Objective Standards for Mixed Use and Multifamily Housing, Public Information Bank - Hazardous Materials. In fact, most of my friends and neighbors in LA were part-time actors who spent most of their free time looking for gigs. Savannah Savannah is one of the most popular cities in Georgia. Benicia is one of the the best places to raise a family in the Bay Area right now. Select any tags that apply to this area. I dont see this improving anytime soon so when you move to California youll need to learn how to better conserve water. Benicia, California . It is very safe and family oriented. Knowing that there are an abundance of amenities and things to do can ensure that you always have access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops. There are plenty of activities to enjoy when living in San Francisco. Pinole is OK. Over 80% of the city was destroyed at the time, 3,000 people were killed, and 250,000 were left homeless. Never noticed till gone for awhile, but a lot of the kindness and friendliness is a phoney act. 10 Pros and Cons of Living in Nevada - Redfin Here we have the 13 pros that we and the people in the video think are the best traits of living in Colombia. The downtown is indeed walkable and quite charming, and right by the water. Every neighborhood has a couple of dog parks that offer an expansive area for leash-free running. Our initial concern about this town is that there is a refinery , but it hasn't bothered us at all since we've been here (about 6 months). 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. You may want to check it out. Im guessing youve never live on your own. Several of the bars in the city will even let you bring your dog into the establishment if it isnt a busy night for them. Also fairly close to a Macys without having to get on any major highways. People in urban environments are more likely to suffer from anxiety and mood disorders than people in other locations. It's a great location; pretty much 30-40 mins from Oakland, SF, Napa And with the "new" bridge, only 20 mins to downtown Walnut Creek. Living in Benicia offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Winnford M. Dela Torre, BSN, RN - Registered Nurse - U.S. Department of But back to CA- cost of housing is the biggest drawback for me. Purchasing your new home can come with many financial benefits, some of which are more lucrative than others. Living in Redding can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the town. Even though there was a lag in growth for the first time in forever in 2018, the rental market in San Francisco is insane and the housing market isnt any better. This is a city that is often said to be a "love it or hate it" type . Benicia City Hall, 250 East L Street Benicia, CA 94510 Phone: (707) 746-4200 When you move to California, one thing will become clear very quickly California is proof that climate change is real. But since there are many children in that town I never minded that they were agressive. But it could be different on some days; I'm not sure. 19 Pros and Cons of Living in San Francisco, California A Travel Website About Portland and Oregon. Pros and cons Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Im a California native and have lived in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco over the past ten years. California has some of the country's most beautiful beaches and with more than 800 miles of coastline you're going to have a lot to choose from. 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. We just moved there from Oakland in February and absolutely love it! 2c. 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. 25 Pros And Cons Of Living In San Diego (Updated 2023) - Home Mindset Needless to say, the houses cost a lot less in Roseville! I have friends in Benicia who say the schools are good, but I have not checked that out as a fact. Yeah Im somewhere in a similar predicament. Some may even offer excursions to other parts of the peninsula and the bay so that you can get out and about on your weekend.