Ideal places in Sonoma County to move with a toddler, Looking to relocate/Schools & Commute in Hercules, Concord, Martinez. The median home price for Benicia homes is $475,500, which is 16.2% higher than the California average. I really feel like Pinole is one of the "best kept secrets" here in the Bay, and my husband and I joke that it must have a cloaking device on it or something. It's definitely cheaper than Berkeley, safe, quiet, but with a great ''old town'' downtown. 4. Sales tax is the highest in the nation. One feature that Martinez has that Benicia does not have is a direct connection on Amtrak from Jack London Square (or West Berkeley). The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. 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. BART to downtown Oakland. 2 : good points and bad points Each technology has its pros and cons. A cost of living index above 100 means Benicia, California is more expensive. Select any tags that apply to this area. You can also catch the NBA, NHL, and MLS when living in the city. 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. Regrettably for Redding, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: crime (F), cost of living (F), education (F), employment (D) and housing (D-). Our main worries are the refinery, convicts and sound from the Amtrak/freight trains. 5. Benicia or Martinez for commute to Oakland? Another vote for the Amtrak Capitol from Martinez to Oakland. There might be a neighborhood for everyone to find in San Francisco, but where you choose to live is going to become the definition of who you are. The pros of living in Davis include its tight-knit community, its proximity to several major California cities, and its commitment to education. 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. Expensive energy costs; the cost of gasoline and electricity is very high in California compared to other states. Our oldest grandson (who is 20 years old) graduated from Benicia High School and is doing extremely well in college. Kelly, Hmm, well, I worked in Benicia for many years and was never seriously tempted to live there. It has excellent schools - all but one are California Distinguished Schools and are actually in the top nationwide. Thanks. In fact, most of my friends and neighbors in LA were part-time actors who spent most of their free time looking for gigs. 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. Hi there Thanks a lot for that, it was very informative and helpful. Benicia fan. 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. Regardless, I hope you find it helpful. There is a wonderful library and community pool and lots more. Benicia offers an abundance of leisure and recreational activities. A wonderful place to raise a family! Like wills, living trusts (formally known as revocable trusts) list the people who will receive your property after you die, leaving you free to manage it while you're alive. Disadvantages of a Living Trust Funding a Trust Is Expensive . Median real estate prices in Redding come in at $232,000, which is 43.3% lower than the California average. Benicians consider that Martinez is somewhat similar in a lot of ways to Benicia (although my understanding is that their refinery has much less capacity); Concord obviously is a much larger town (really a small city) and harder to generalize, but don't underestimate the value of proximity to BART. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is the city is $3,108 per month. The Lifestyle is Very Laid-Back Shorts, sunglasses, and sandals is the non-official uniform or "California look" of the Palm Springs lifestyle. It only takes one missed stop to figure that issue out. Neighborhood define you in San Francisco. I worked a few years in downtown Benicia commuting from Berkeley this combo. I take my daughter to a lot of activities in Benicia. Then you have the 7.25% state sales tax, which becomes 8.5% in San Francisco. Both times we were military and received housing allowance. 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). 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. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The homeless population has gotten completely out of control and is scary at this point. We were looking for a family friendly community with good schools in the area and we stumbled upon Benicia. 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. Thank you! Although not Napa or Sonoma, this is a historic town surrounded by the bay with a small-town feel and very family oriented. I am a teacher in an adjacentschool district and know many, many teachers who work for Benicia Unified. Or is there a bus? 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. Let me know if you have any questions or comments below, its always a pleasure to hear from you! So youre moving to California with the intention of buying a home? We are very excited. Which city would you recommend social wise? All she said is true. At this point, anyone living in California knows that wildfires are inevitable during the summer and we actually plan around them. One of the reasons why people are consistently attracted to the idea of living in San Francisco is because of its emphasis on diversity. The median home cost in Benicia is Real Estate: $763,400. They both have advantages of amazing views from many neighborhoods. Youll discover that not only is it one of the best sports-related metro areas in the country, but San Francisco offers several cultural options as well. Ill be the first to admit I dont know what the right solution for homelessness is, but I want to be transparent about it for anyone considering moving to California because you will notice it on a daily basis. Dont base your schedule on what it tells you. You are going to need some cash to make things happen if you want to start living here. Knowing if your home will appreciate on a long term or even a short term basis should be factored into your decision making. thank you Hmm. 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). He arranges charts, rehearses and plays shows(mostly Cabaret and standards). An amount below 100 means Benicia is cheaper than the US average. Weather In Colombia. Benicia is looking like where we might land. The Amicalola Falls are among the biggest, and they are a popular attraction for Georgia residents to check out and enjoy. People tend to drive faster and with more aggression, so youll need to turn up your defensive driving skills a notch. Wow, the houses dont even look like they should be worth that much. I'd suggest spending a full day in each. Living In. Youll have a plethora of Micheline-Star restaurants and phenomenal cheap eats to choose from. I was born and raised in the East Bay. The weather is always nice enough in San Francisco to get outside, so youll see people enjoying the outdoors through hiking and cycling. When James Marshall discovered gold in the area, a surge of people came to make their fortune. We also have friends in Roseville who absolutely love its family-friendliness and easy light rail commute into downtown Sac. 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. Ive lived in Sacramento twice- fun times, but you never have much money to spare. 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. Well done, well said and bravo for being honest. House very expensive old features. The community often has little events that are great for meeting new people. The town puts on wonderful holiday celebrations and the entire town comes out to celebrate. Wefeel close to everything but also far away, if that makes any sense. If you cant afford being here, even with a job offer, then maybe another destination is the right choice to make. Needless to say, the houses cost a lot less in Roseville! Benicia is known to be family friendly as more than 76% of the population has already tied the knot. Checking rates won't affect your credit score. I was born and raised in the Monterey Bay area and forced by parents to move away. Private studio with shared pool - 8,000,000 - 12,000,000 IDR. You will need to deal with the tax situation when living in San Francisco. Have you considered Benicia? Everyone gathers at the green field at the end of 1st Street and watches the fire works. In moving around so much, Ive had an opportunity to experience living in California through various large cities and Ive definitely learned a lot about what life in California is like. Even having a sourdough bread bowl filled with chowder while enjoying a view of Alcatraz makes for a memorable day. You have to drive to Concord or Fairfield for a Trader Joes, and the closest Whole Foods is in Napa or Walnut Creek. Monica, My family is hoping to buy a home soon. The public schools in Benicia are highly rated. All the advantages of Benicia at Vallejo housing prices. Prices differ largely based on where in town accommodation is located, if all the bills are included (wifi, electricity, water, etc. She developedasthma after moving there. Though it is a suburb of Vallejo, it is significantly different. People from Benicia drive to Pleasant Hill BART if they're going to take BART. The road tripping opportunities are endless, you can spend days at the beach or peruse a plethora of museums or attend world-class events. Housing prices everywhere are just off the charts! Benicia is a moderately-sized city located in the state of California. At present, California is the worst state in the country for fire dangers. If you do get the urge to take a day trip, then you can head over to Yosemite, enjoy the sunshine on the peninsula, or take the four-hour drive (with good traffic) to Lake Tahoe for world-class skiing. Kathy, Re: considering a move to Sacramento Heres the stats on traffic for the three most populous cities in California: Los Angeles horrendous traffic is known the world over and the proof is in the pudding. Any time you add a bridge to the equation, it gets dicey, so in general I'd say Martinez is better than Benicia strictly from the commute perspective. Compared to the United States average, Benicia ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! The best areas in Benicia and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Here are 5 benefits of living in California. Benicia is a small, family-friendly town and we have lots of fun downtown activities for families and teens. Have you ever consider Benicia? Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. For comparison purposes, the average price in the United States for the same space is about $1,175 per month. If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. Ive never done anything like this before. If youre considering moving to California and settling further from the coast, understand that the average summer temperature exceed 95F and 100F+ days are not uncommon. The state has a fairly relaxed vibe to it, people seem to move at a slower pace. Public transportation in San Francisco covers the entire city. Here we have the 13 pros that we and the people in the video think are the best traits of living in Colombia. you did not mention is the California Government. As for life in California? I have friends in Benicia who say the schools are good, but I have not checked that out as a fact. 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. I would crack up when the ''water view'' was looking at the refinery, but there are plenty of houses that do have a real water view. I would strongly recommend Benicia if you guys were looking for a traditional affluent suburban experience with traditional schools, but it doesn't sound like that is what you want. and a Pain It generally costs more time and money to set up and fund a revocable living trust than to simply write a willas much as three times more, at least initially. As a budget traveler and travel blogger, this is definitely the number one plus for living in Europe. 5. I'm wondering if being in Martinez would actually save that much time compared with Benicia. Many young professionals live in Benicia and residents tend to have moderate political views. 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. If youre planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, its nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. There is very little police protection. JOJ, We live in Benicia and really like it. An added bonus is that the town is located right on the water so you can see the ships go by, etc. Your property taxes are going to be higher if you own too since the property values are skyrocketing in the city. SCHOOLS Benicia public schools spend $8,132 per student. Making the effort to think through all possible pros and cons of a given course of. The discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots is painstakingly clear on the streets and practically impossible to avoid while living in California. Windemere has all the desired conveniences-including shopping, dining, freeways and BART. And almost anywhere in the city, you can see the water. We moved to Benicia 2 1/2 years ago from Los Angeles. The city has a population of 27,780 people. My husband is a professional musician (piano player) who makes his living playing for famous(and not so famous) singers. Pros and cons of living in Wisconsin: Bottom line. We live in Benicia, and moved here for the great schools. Thanks for your candor. 5. You really arent a true resident of the city until youve seen someone walking down the street naked. Savannah Savannah is one of the most popular cities in Georgia. Living in California is a tale of extremes extreme wealth and extreme poverty. 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. Please keep in mind that this is a personal list, not everyone will feel the same way. The core downtown area is kinda cute, but Benicia's got it beat by a landslide. The downtown is indeed walkable and quite charming, and right by the water. Sign up for a yoga class on the beach and see what all the hype is about. Although its gotten more expensive (like everywhere else) this last year, its still affordable compared to other nice parts of the Bay Area. However, it is a great middle ground for a road trip. You cant beat the weather and people who live here love it. A Benicia public option is bus to Vallejo Transit Center from Benicia. The whole bus will start yelling at you too, so maybe dont be the first one out until you get used to the situation. At least you wont be shoveling snow by the foot like people to the north are during the winter months from the same storms. Dictionary Entries Near pros and cons prosaist pros and cons Prosarthri See More Nearby Entries Cite this Entry Style 3. Benicia ca - The Pros and Cons of Benicia California, Moving to Benicia ca. 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. 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. Feel free to email me! If you want to rent in San Francisco, then you can expect to pay a lot for that option too. Several apartment complexes and condos offer these areas as well. The median sale price is $407,500, which is lower than neighboring state of California. San Diego: The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment clocks in at a steep $2,400 and the median home price is currently $765,000 (and rising annually). From the striking sunny coastline of Southern California to the towering cliffs of Big Sur, youll be privy to every natural wonder in between. Benicia is a suburb of Vallejo with a population of 27,191. Traffic and homeless is not something to fun to see they are in need of help but no one can. Gas is also usually $1-$2 more a gallon than most other states. A commute of around 45 min from Valejo is ok. Also can you reccomend any good rental agents? Rent is ridiculous and taxes will take up to 60% of your income. We just moved there from Oakland in February and absolutely love it! 9. You'll have access to amenities like an extensive trail system . Also does anyone know of resources for commuters from Benicia? If you want to save some cash by ditching the vehicle, then San Francisco has you covered with its public transportation system. (Doesnt seem like it to me, but Im open to learning).
