Moving to Sacramento
Parent Q&A
One of my adult daughters moved to Sacramento and loves it.She got a nice apartment in a good area for under $1200 a month,something she could never do here.A lot of young families are moving there and I was surprised by how many good restaurants are there as well as fun things to do.The best part is that she can drive here or take Amtrack without too much trouble.
I could have written this post verbatim! My husband and I are moving to Sacramento from Berkeley for precisely the reasons you listed. Yes, there are a lot of great things about living here -- diversity, restaurants, cultural offerings, etc. -- but contrary to popular belief, the Bay Area does not have a monopoly on those things. I lived in Sacramento for a few years before moving to the Bay, and I have missed it ever since. It's safe, has great weather (ok, it gets quite hot in July/August but I can live with that), the schools are good, there are tons of biking/hiking trails, and the restaurant scene is great and only getting better. It also has some of the best coffee I've had in my life :-) Most importantly, the people are not nearly as pretentious as those in the Bay Area. As a Chicago native & Cal alum who has lived on both coasts (and many places in between), I can say that the people in Sacramento are among the most down-to-earth that I have met. I also have friends who live in Davis and absolutely love it for many of the same reasons. I highly recommend checking out the Sacramento/Davis area!
The Sacramento area is much more affordable than here and there are plenty of non-suburb areas. I lived up there for a while during my college and post college years and still have many connections. Davis is lovely and extremely family friendly. Midtown Sacramento and other areas close to the city center are lively and walkable, but also peaceful. We are big fans of the area.
We moved out of the inner East Bay due to housing prices. We would have considered Sacramento if it weren't for our jobs and all close family here. We moved out to Hercules (past Richmond). It is a suburb, but we live near plenty of walkable things (cafe, restaurants, the bay). It is much cheaper out here as well and we have been really happy and met other young families. We were sad to move out of Berkeley but it has been a fantastic choice.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
- Help me fall in love with Sacramento?
- Moving to Sacramento area with kids 3 and 7
- Sacramento neighborhoods and schools?
- Moving to Sacramento with Kids
- Moving to Sacramento for a year
- What's it like to live in Sacramento?
- Neighborhoods in Sacramento for a job downtown
- Moving to Sacramento this summer with 3 kids
- Earlier reviews of Sacramento
Help me fall in love with Sacramento?
April 2016
We are considering a move to Sacramento for several quality of life reasons (grandparents, cost of housing prices). I have been in the Bay Area for 20 years and am nervous to leave because I love the many things that make the Bay Area special. We are looking for recommendations for things to get us started such as great realtor specifically for East Sac, a Reggio Emilio and/or nature based preschool, a renewal or very liberal reform synagogue or other Jewish community resources, private elementary school like Park Day, queer parenting resources. Also, if there are things you love about Sacramento (snarky, lefty, foodie, queer, cultural) can you share those for some inspiration? For context, things I'll miss about east bay include the Parkway, the Bowl and Monterrey Market, La Pena, Freight and Salvage, Bites off Broadway, The Little Farm, Market Hall, Lake Merritt walks, Chochmat Ha Lev, Albany Bulb, The Cheese Board etc.
I rarely have time to respond to questions but I had to make time for this one! I grew up near Sacramento and honestly didn't think much of it at the time, I was anxious to get away and live in a 'big city.'
Then my husband and I found ourselves forced to move to Sacramento for his law school. I was blown away by how much better it was than I'd expected. We moved to the Bay Area after as was our long-term dream, but I really miss Sacramento. I did not have children at the time, but we still go back often because I have lots of family in the area. Honestly, I wish we could move back. It is a city so there's lots of resources and things to do, but the pace is slower there, which I really miss.
We lived in the downtown/midtown area, which is beautiful. There are so many trees, and it was very walkable and bikeable. They have monthly 'Second Saturdays' art gallery openings, similar to Oakland's First Fridays. We loved Rubicon Brewery, Tower Café, and Temple coffee.
Going back to visit now that we have a kiddo, there's Fairyland and the train museum. In nearby Davis there's an incredible Farmer's Market and all kinds of hippie stuff, like the annual Whole Earth Festival on Mother's Day Weekend. I understand that there's lots that you'll miss around here, but I hope you fall in love with Sacramento because there's lots of great stuff there too. Good luck! Love Sacramento
I'm not sure you can, but let me try. It's much hotter in the summer and much colder in the winter. Traffic is just as bad.
You are closer to Tahoe, the delta and the gold country. There is some night life but not like SF or East Bay. If you like the ocean it's now a half day trip or more.
It's a much smaller city and there’s a more rural early California feel to it. Like the East Bay and SF there is a really bad drug problem. We have family who live there and when we visit we play the game 'Spot the Tweaker'.
I’ve worked there and thought about living there but the summers are just too darn hot. The other thing one might like about (I don’t) is Sacramento is it’s full of chain stores. ANON
Hi! I can put your mind at ease. We moved to the Sacramento area last summer (Folsom, about 20 min N of Sacramento) and have not looked back. Do I miss the food in Berkeley? Yes. Do I miss my friends? Yes. Do I miss the crazy, insane housing situation? NO!!! Can I actually afford to buy a nice house to raise my family in that is close to good public schools, fantastic biking/running trails, river rafting and kayaking? YES!!! Are logistics easier? YES! Would I move up here again? YES! And by the way, I adore the climate. Yes, it is hot in the summer, but you can sit out at night and it actually feels like summer. There is a fantastic food co-op in Sacramento and there are definitely liberal Jews like me. Hey, there's a Pesach section in Whole Foods right now. Feel free to reach out. No regrets here. Just hoping the food situation will improve in time. I'm going swimming outside this weekend! wenmazb [at] yahoo.com new to Folsom
It has been more than a decade since I couch-surfed in Sacramento, but these are the things that I like about that area:
The historic sites by the West Sacramento river crossing; the railroad museum, 'Old Sacramento' with touristy, but fun, shops and eateries. The River Otter Water Taxi, in which you can go on the river. One pilot allows passengers to take the helm headed dowstream if it is their birthday.
The Capitol building and its lawn, with samples of every tree and shrub that grow in the state. Opportunities to be a civic gadfly, making appointments with legislators' staff to argue the case for a worthy cause. Bay area residents must travel to Sacramento to do this. You could be helpful, if this is the sort of thing you enjoy.
The old farm town of Fair Oaks, until recently one of the most Republican districts in the state, has a pioneer cemetery, an annual Renaissance Faire, and feral chickens wandering all over town, jusr like in Hawaii.
Sacramento is a rail hub, allowing for a relaxing and scenic two hour trip back to the East Bay. I find that it is just enough time to get some computer work done. And the terminus can be Jack London Square or San Jose. You can also take the California Zephyr over the mountains to Reno in a couple of hours.
Sacramento is close to UC Davis, with its music, museums, and equestrian program. There is also Sacramento State, American River JC, etc.
Most neighborhoods are flat, which encourages bicycling. Most neighborhoods are uncrowded. There is good heath care available.
Hope this perspective is helpful. Amelia Sue
I moved to the East Bay from Sacramento 12 years ago, when my kids were 7 and almost 5. I had my reasons, but -- Sacramento is a great place to raise kids.
Thoughts re your specific questions/things you love about the Bay Area -- where I know something about it (recognizing: may be a bit out of date).
Preschool: Might or might not meet your criteria, but Hand in Hand preschool was an amazing place for my kids, loving and well run. We still live by 'Safe Clean and Kind.'
School: There's more than one Waldorf option, if you're interested in that; my older child went to Courtyard (a local private school) and it was a good fit -- in some ways comparable to Park Day. (My kids didn't go to Park Day but we know a lot of Park Day families.) Depending on where you live, some of the public schools are quite good.
Synagogue: B'nai Israel is the big, and by my standards welcoming, reform temple. Just about every Jewish family I knew in Sacramento went there.
There are a lot of kid friendly outdoor concerts in Sacramento all through the spring and summer -- used to be every Friday night at Cesar Chavez Park, and then another series that was once a month or so on Saturday evening in a different park every month -- the kids could run and play and dance, there was food and beer available, getting outside just as the heat of the day was turning into pleasant warmth of the evening -- it was pretty magical sometimes, better than Bites off Broadway any day.
Lovely farmers markets -- used to be one in Cesar Chavez Park sometime midweek, and another on Sunday under the freeway (forever known in my family as the one where I lost my daughter when she was three -- only to have her almost immediately find one of her preschool teachers who helped her find me -- one nice thing about Sacramento is that it still can feel like a small town). Even ten years ago we had some favorite restaurants, mostly not high end, that were quite good, and I think the restaurant scene has improved since then.
It's not Berkeley Bowl, but the local Nugget grocery chain is very good and carries a lot of organic produce. I didn't usually go to the Davis location, but it's pretty amazing -- I called it The Temple of Food for the cornucopia frieze outside and the selection inside.
The local parks are fantastic for kids. McKinley Park playground is awesome, we had Saturday morning library and playground morning on a regular basis. Out in River Park there's another nice playground, a public pool (kids start swim lessons very young) and a river beach that's like Albany Bulb, kinda -- there's sandy areas by the river but also lots of willows and other trees and paths to walk and explore nature: Paradise Beach.
Down in Land Park: Fairytale Town (where we saw some amazing kids' theater a couple of times), Funderland, the zoo.
Hope that's helpful. It was a lovely place to live, in lots of ways. I hope, if you go, that you do indeed come to love it. Kathy
Crocker Art Museum has a stellar art collection. Some of the collection is housed in a beautiful Victorian mansion that was originally built by the Crocker family as their home -- the building itself is amazing and historically interesting. More art is housed in an expansion. There are many great Crocker kid and family programs, including art camps, and it is open late Thursday evenings. Go to crockerartmuseum.org for more info. Crocker Art Museum Fan
Moving to Sacramento area with kids 3 and 7
Nov 2014
Hello- My husband is interviewing for jobs in Sacramento, and as sad as we are to leave Berkeley, we are looking forward to better real estate options. I think the town of Sacramento has quite a bit to offer but I'm noticing the public schools aren't so great. Does anyone have any experience or opinions they can share about schools in Sacramento? We are also considering Roseville because the public schools are highly rated there, but I'm worried that it might be too conservative. Seems like a cute small town. Can anyone update me on Roseville? Our kids are 3 and 7. Thanks!!! heading northeast
Honestly, I would look in Davis first. Davis has great schools and is a lot like Berkeley and the commute over the causeway to Sacramento is not that bad. Sacramento area is either a commute on the I-80 corridor or US 50 corridor. Both have some good cities/schools. The schools in Sacramento are not very good, but Fair Oaks is next to Sac (San Juan Unified?) and Bella Vista High School had a great rep when I lived up there in 1994-2000, but I am not sure about the elem/middle schools and Orangevale, the town next door, is very conservative.
I-80 side, as you go up I-80 it gets more conservative, but Rocklin has good schools and is probably more modern thinking than Roseville. Up on US 50 commute, Folsom/Gold River has good schools and it is the less conservative side. And there are some new and up and coming neighborhoods above Folsom, but again the commute is farther from Sacramento.
Elk Grove is another area to look. It is just South of Sac and I think it is on the light rail line.
Hope that helps. Former Citrus Heights dweller
I'm sorry I can't speak to the current public school situation, but I don't think you'd get a small town feel in Roseville. It's very suburban. An alternative would be the Fair Oaks village area, with is very cute, has nice older houses, and a real small town center (although Fair Oaks is connected through suburbs to all the rest of the area). It's known for its wild chickens which wander around town (pretend you're on Kauai) and it's near the river. I believe it's in the San Juan USD. I would love to live in the Land Park area near downtown Sacramento, although that's in the Sacramento school district. Folsom has an old timey downtown and is near nice trails on the river, but also is mostly very suburban, housing developments, etc. I've been told the schools are good, though. I envy you the housing prices, but be prepared for the hot hot summers and the more conservative outlook of many of the communities.
Sacramento neighborhoods and schools?
Nov 2013
Due to an upcoming job change, our family of four is considering a move from the Bay Area to the Sacramento area. While we have done a little research on climate, crime and cost of living, I would love to get firsthand recommendations for good neighborhoods and school districts for families with young kids. We are open to exploring both the city and surrounding areas like Davis and Roseville. Any perspective you can share would be much appreciated! Thanks. Thinking about a Move
My parents grew up in Clarksburg which is 10 miles south of Sacramento on the Sacramento River. It's a really small town, but it has a charter school, Delta Elementary Charter School (formerly Clarksburg Elementary) that attracts kids locally and from West Sacramento. My cousin's daughter goes there and my uncle was involved in opening the charter school (he was principal of Clarksburg Elementary for many years). Anyway, Clarksburg is dinky, but it's a nice community. If the idea of a small town is appealing, you should look into it. Carrie
Hi there, We have been in the Rocklin area for the past 6 years, and have really enjoyed it. It is a safe community and has tons of activities for families with small children. The elementary schools here are great. While I can't speak to all of them, my children currently attend Breen, and we have been very happy there. I know families with children at Sierra, Valley View and Rock Creek and they are all very pleased with their elementary experiences as well. One thing I would say, is that be prepared for the extreme heat here in the summertime. Many homes up here have a pool, and if you can find one, I would definitely recommend it. Most kids live in the water during the summer months here. We are moving down to the Bay Area within the next few months, and we will certainly miss our community up here. Good luck with your move! Happy in Rocklin
Moving to Sacramento with Kids
April 2012
i've a few friends who've moved to Sac or have lived there & some really like it. one in particular misses living in Sac even though she is here in the EB. This really surprised me. One friend in particular keeps telling me how great Sac is. Anyway here is situation: we bought a house & were planning to be in for about 5 years. we've one little girl who is about 2 and are expecting another kid at the end of the year. our home has no outdoor space and the near by parks are terrible, all outings require driving. Plus the local school is not great. Point is we have to move...but where? my husband works from home most of the time or travels to meetings, where i'm a SAHM. my question is anyone live in Sac with kids have any info on what it is like there for the kids. Activities, parks, SAHMs, schools. How liberal is it? are there better neighborhoods then others for walkability and liberalness? Overall culture out there. Anything else that maybe helpful. thanks so much overwhelmed
Moved to the EB from Sacramento before we had children and even though I miss Sacramento I would not move back there. My husband and I have discussed moving back however after speaking with friends who live there we found that their school situation is just as bad as it is here! My best friend lives in Davis and her experience has been great. The public schools are awesome (there are several schools which are Spanish Immersion and perform very very well). Davis is very liberal, walkable, and friendly. It close enough to Sacramento, Tahoe and San Francisco! If my husbands job was not in San Francisco, I would move to Davis! Pulling for Davis
Have you ever consider Benicia??? I grew up in Sacramento actaully Elk Grove before all those houses were built. Antioch reminds me of Elk Grove now. 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? I love the East Bay especially Berkeley. We actaully have a daughter who goes to a school in North Berkeley so I drive down everyday. Benicia is a very sleepy town with a little bid of Santa Cruz feel to it. If I need Berkeley or SF fix, we just drive down and can be on the Bay Bridge in 20mins with no traffic. We are also less than 20mins away from Napa. You may want to check it out. If you have any question, you can email me as well. Happy in Benicia
Moving to Sacramento for a year
Jan 2011
We're planning to move to Sacramento for one year (July 2011/12) while my husband is in a fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center. We've explored some of the neighborhoods and like East Sac, Curtis Park, and parts of the neighborhood near the hospital. Our daughter will be two years old. I would love hear if BPN members have any experience there and might make suggestions regarding the following (or anything else): neighborhoods to live in, housing sources (besidesCraigslist - house exchange/sitting), preschools/daycare, playgroups, activities for toddlers, great playgrounds
Thank you! Portia
There are amazing parks EVERYWHERE in Sacramento. Seriously, when I visit my folks I am always blown away by the huge parks at every turn. Parks that here would have tons of kids all over it are relatively uncrowded because there are just so many. Just for example, william land park is double the size of frog park and also has a pond with geese to feed. But seriously, wherever you are there will be a neighborhood park within walking distance that is pretty cool. Good luck with your move! Meredith
Hello, I grew up in Sacramento and my parents still live there. As someone else posted, there are lots of parks, but as a visitor with small children now, I actually found that a hinderance. So many people have big backyards and swimming pools, that parks aren't the central neighborhood meeting places that they are in Berkeley. I grew up in a suburban part (and had to drive everywhere), but some friends who moved back live in the 40's and near UCD Medical Center which has walkable neighborhoods. One fantastic kid place I discovered- Art Beast (http://www.artbeaststudio.com/) which is downtown. On the other end of town, Sunflower Restaurant (http://www.sunflowernaturalrestaurant.com/) is a funky, veggie food shop. You can eat in the park next door and let the kids run around. ALso for good salads, there is a Pluto's both in Davis and in Arden Fair Mall (near the movie theater). HOpe you enjoy Sacramento! Born and raised in Sac
What's it like to live in Sacramento?
June 2010
My husband and I are finally realizing that in order to give our son everything we want to, and to live in a house larger than two bedrooms but not have to commute 1.5 hours each way, we are going to have to leave the Bay Area. We love it here - love the people, the food, the weather, all the great things for kids. But we just can't afford it.
In looking around, we have started talking about the Sacramento area. It seems to have some jobs in both of our fields, the cost of living is obviously much more manageable, and it would let us stay close to all of our friends and family here. Does anyone have any thoughts on what it is like to live up there? Are there good activities for kids? Is it unbearably conservative (or hot)? (We moved here from the South to avoid both of those issues). Is there anywhere decent to eat or is Applebee's fine dining? Any other areas we should check out? Thanks for any input and advice! Broke Mom
I grew up in Sacramento and it's not at all bad. Great for families -- tons of activities. The summers are hot, but that can be nice, especially the warm evenings. There's tremendous diversity, and not too conservative, especially in the areas closer to midtown. Great neighborhoods are land park, Curtis park, midtown. I live in Berkeley now and love it, but I appreciate having grown up in Sacramento! With 2 kids now, I miss being able to gonfor bike rides in flat terrain. We enjoy visiting grandparents there now, and going swimming and biking in the summer. Go for it! Jen
just about all my in-laws live in the sac valley area, so we have to visit several times a year. yes, it's more conservative and not as racially diverse - my half-white niece was rejected by the local girl scout troop. it was pretty obvious that race was the issue if you just looked. but the family is not getting lynched, and my niece is thriving in her school.
it's very suburban, but more shocking factor might be the weather which can get extremely hot in the summer. and while the area is not known for its cuisines, there are plenty of good restaurants of various ethnic cuisines. depending on the neighborhood, it is very, very kid-friendly - i think folsom even has a really good high school, thanks to intel's presence. carmichael is right next to sacto which has more stuff, so that's another option.
it's a sprawling suburb, and i personally wouldn't live there if it weren't for financial reasons. despite seeing too many mccain/palin posters along the freeway as i drove further east, there are many worse, more conservative places in this country. besides, i'm sure you'll be able to find like-minded people there - fewer than half of my in-laws are conservatives. - sacto visitor
I grew up in Sacramento and visit often because my parents and sister live there. I think it's a great place to grow up, for all the reason people move to suburbs: cheaper, easier, bigger house, big yard. I think Sacramento proper is extremely diverse (I think it was listed somewhere as most diverse city); outlying suburbs like Folsom, El Dorado Hills, etc are not diverse, but extremely kid friendly. My sister lives in El Dorado Hills and my son loves visiting because they have a gigantic yard and pool and long driveway that he can ride his scooter down. There are tons of little playgrounds and parks nearby too. My parents live in South Sacramento, not far from downtown. I love Midtown and have often considered moving there. It's very walkable, lots of great Victorian and Craftsman houses, good coffee places, clothing boutiques, decent & diverse restaurants. Close by (and nicer, with gorgeous houses) are Land Park and East Sacramento, specifically the 'Fabulous 40's.' I like Sacramento's hot weather, too. Old Sacramento also has a train museum that my son LOVES. I think it's a good choice; you can also check out Davis. Good luck! Former Sacramentan
Hi-
Just wanted to point out some of the great things about Sacramento. I noticed one commenter had pretty negative things to say.
I love Sacramento. I lived there for many years and my extended family is there now. We are a very multi-racial family with asian, black and a few others thrown into the mix and have never had any problems in Sac. Oddly enough the only racism my family has experienced had been in SF.
My husband (Chinese) grew up with this image of Sac as a 'staunchly conservative town full of hicks' but he has since realized how wrong that is. And yes, we actually met and fell in love there. :)
I would move back in a second but my Oakland-raised hubby can't deal with heat above 80 degrees. :) So, if you do move consider air conditioning a must have.
Good luck! Sactown ;)
Neighborhoods in Sacramento for a job downtown
April 2010
My husband's dream job has been offered to him - in downtown Sacto (govt job.) Davis feels like a better value fit for us, but I'm wondering about neighborhoods in Sacramento that we should consider? kinda sad to leave Bay Area
You absolutely must check out East Sacramento. I grew up in East Sac (in the 'fabulous '40's'), and it is everything I could have ever wanted in a neighborhood. It's so beautiful - all houses built in the 1930's with big trees. I so wish I could move back. Have fun house shopping! Sarah
I lived in Sacto in the '90s (also govt job). I was single then, but I really liked it. Real seasons, slower pace of life, can bike everywhere, and I made very good liberal- minded friends. Sacto has gotten even better since then, good restaurants, more nightlife, art and theatre. I go back regularly to see my friends. If I got a job there now, I would probably choose Sacto over Davis. I don't know about the school districts, but for neighborhoods I'd choose Curtis Park, then maybe Land Park. These are close to downtown and public transit. Davis has great schools, but it is very homogeneous. Maybe I'm just a city gal. Sacto Fan
If what you will miss about the Bay Area is the old-fashioned housing stock, mature trees and walking to coffee (and possibly work), then the City of Sacramento neighborhoods of East Sacramento, Land Park and Curtis Park should be your list. If you are used to the crime and grunge of Oakland, then you can also include Oak Park and Tahoe Park. Lovers of the Bay Area lifestyle should probably not bother with West Sac or Natomas (although, if you always wanted a brand-new house, those are the places. However, Natomas is not as close to downtown as people lead you to believe).
Davis has predominantly 1970's-80's ranch style houses, as well as awesome parents, children, schools, and recreation. And those are the center of most folk's universe. It has a bit of an isolated island feel - but many people love the island and commute to downtown Sac. If you are renting, know that Davis houses tend to come up in cycles to coincide with the school year (either June or August starts), but the listings can come up several months prior.
Good luck - it's very much a personal choice. Bay Area Bungalope
Moving to Sacramento this summer with 3 kids
May 2009
Hi, we are moving this summer to Sacramento, and I was wondering if there is something like parents list there? Also, what are fun things to do with kids; baby,5,7 yrs old? What do you love about Sac. What do you hate, other than the heat? Any advice for transition..This is the first big move with kids. Thanks miss U all! liza
I grew up in West Sacramento. Besides the heat, and dreary winter fog, Sacramento's no worse than most urban areas. The Capitol and surrounding park are great. The older part of Sacramento has lots of trees (shade is very welcome in summer!), small restaurants, shops. Old Town, by the river, is a great tourist trap. The zoo, and William Land Park, both near the river on the south side of town, are or were good kid places. You're closer to Yosemite and Tahoe than in the Bay Area. And it's not the cultural wasteland that I imagined it to be in the 60's! Nils
My kids were both born in Sac'to -- I moved to the East Bay with them when they were ages 7 and 5. Happy as I am to be here, Sacramento is a great town for families with kids. Fun things: lots of great playgrounds, try the one in McKinley Park (which is also right by a public library with a great kids section); in Land Park there's the zoo, Fairytale Town (kind of like Fairyland in Oakland), and something called ''Funderland'' which is a teeny amusement park with nothing but kiddy rides. Lots of public pools; my kids took swim lessons through the parks department.
In the summer, there are lots of family-friendly free outdoor music events in parks around the city. These were very idyllic for me -- I could sit and listen with food and drink and my kids would run around with other kids; sometimes we would dance together.
Where I lived, in the River Park neighborhood (out by Sac State) the kids could go out and play with other kids on the block, in and out of everyone's backyards. Of course, there's also the usual array of organized kid activities: we did soccer, gymnastics, and ballet (at various times). Oh, and we used to go to the state fair every year.
Don't know of a list like this one, but there may be one by now. The preschool my kids attended (Hand in Hand -- it's fantastic, ages 2-5) was a great resource for meeting other parents and just generally getting help with parenting stuff.
Parents network in Sacramento?
Oct 2005
I've just recently moved to Sacramento from the Bay. I am single mom of a 9 year old boy and have found BPN invaluable!!! Does anyone know of anything similar in Sacramento? Letitia
I grew up in Sacramento, and still visit often. I just discovered the Mothers Support Network. I don't know if they have an email list, but they do have a newsletter, used clothing store, music classes, playgroups, workshops, etc. Most of the stuff appears to be for younger kids (as mine are), but I bet they would know about stuff for parents and older kids. The website is http://www.motherssupportnetwork.org Anita
Moving to Sacramento - natural asbestos in the area?
July 2005
My partner and I are transferring to Sacramento for work and are looking at outlying areas to move. I've come across various articles about NOA (Naturally Occurring Asbestos) that has recently come to light in the Folsom/El Dorado Hills areas. From my research thus far, the asbestos is natural to the area and lies deep in the serpentine rock that makes up the foothills. The rock itself isn't dangerous just the dust when it is broken up during construction or used as gravel. The EPA is raising red flags but can't give any comparison data or prognosis. The locals and real estate professionals (of course) don't seem to think it is an issue and can be easily mitigated by dust management. Does anyone have any feedback about NOA? Or input from friends/family in the area? Thank you. Anon
I googled the topic and came up with some websites:
http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/noa_testimony.html http://www.californialung.org/advocacy/asbestos_01fw.html http://www.upstate.edu/pathenvi/studies/case6.htm http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/emd/apcd/asbestos.html
which tend to indicate it's a known problem, but that the verdict is out on how agencies and localities are going to deal with it. It sounds like you may want to be picky about where you settle, at the very least. Here is a map: http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/emd/apcd/NOA_map.html Nils
Hi- I am from Folsom, down the road so to speak from the area most in the ''hot zone'' for NOA. And I must say I would think twice about living up in El Dorado Hills at this point. Check the ''Sacramento Bee'' and their archives and you'll see study after study suggesting that even a day at the park or running the bases at a softball game will increase your chances of cancer. Personally, I have enough going on in my world now that I don't want to worry if going for a walk in the park is going to increase my risk. Sure there are things people do everyday that increase our risks of getting this or that, but why take the chance if you don't have to?
Check out this recent article highlighting UC Davis research: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050712225506.htm
And also the press release from UCD Med Center: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/newsroom/releases/archives/cancer/2005/asbestos_cancer7-2005.htm Good luck left the foothills
Sacramento communities with trees and good schools
January 2003
Hello - We are considering relocating to Sacramento/El Dorado Hills area, however, we know nothing about the area. We would like to buy a house in a ''nice'' area with excellent schools and lots of trees and outdoor activities. Can anybody recommend cities or communities around Sacramento that might fit the bill? Where are the good places to live up there? Any other information on the area would also be appreciated. We have two kids under the age of two. thanks!
I lived and worked in the Sac area for many years. I love Sac and would move back in a minute if I could.
Here are my four suggestions:
1. Arden Park Area - My sister and her family live there. It is bounded by Arden Way, Watt, Fair Oaks, and Eastern Ave. The public school there is very highly rated (MarieMont). There are also excellent private schools nearby.
2. If you like a more urban environment try mid-town sac. It's the area surrounding 21st and L street.
3. Another great area is the ''Fab 40's.'' This is around L and the 40th to 50th area. Old cute houses and some old, big, beautiful houses.
4. I would not recommend El Dorado Hills even tho the houses are new and big, you are basically out in the middle of nowhere. Driving into Sac in the morning from that area can easily take an hour or more, because the traffic is horrible. Also, in the midtown and fab 40's you are close to UC Davis Med Center, which is a wonderful resource. Hope this helps. Julie
I've heard many good things about Elk Grove. Tunisha
I've known and currently know several people who have or still live in the Sacramento area. In their and my humble opinions, Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn and Granite Bay are all nice. They're all to the East of Sacramento, Auburn is even getting into the foothills. My in-laws used to and a best friend's in- laws currently live in Roseville and all agree it is one of the better cities in the Sacramento area to live in. There even happens to be some great new shopping opening up in Eastern Roseville, near Rocklin. And when we were out there last, it looked like there were some new homes being built in the area.
We've also considered moving to the Sacramento area, so I've done a bit of research into where we'd like to live if we did.
The City of Roseville website is at http://roseville.ca.us/
And Yahoo's Sacramento Metro info is at: http://local.yahoo.com/?spid=9265633
I find a lot of good info from Yahoo Locals.
Hope this helps! Jen
Sad to see so many wonderful friends moving away but we understand…
Several friends moved to Roseville CA (suburb of Sacramento) and are very happy. Better schools, large backyard, bigger house, etc. One family is biracial and no issues with being biracial. They are liberal although probably moderate by the Bay Area standards.
The most popular places where friends have moved include Portland or somewhere else in Oregon and Colorado (Boulder and Denver) on this side of the Mississippi. They seem to fit your criteria but I understand Portland has gotten quite expensive and the lack of sunlight is a real issue.
We started out with the “maybe the Sacramento area?” question and ended up in North Carolina (chapel hill). We are a progressive black/white biracial family and have been very happy with the move!
Davis! It's adorable, walkable, bikeable, great schools. If you can deal with the heat, it's a fantastic place.
We moved to Sacramento from Albany in 2021. We first rented in Elmhurst and now live in Tahoe Park. Our rental is cheap compared to the Bay Area and our neighborhood is very nice and safe. I miss the stores and restaurants in the East Bay. There is no Monterey Market here. We do not have young children so not sure about schools but the community is definitely friendly. The heat is extreme. Very extreme. Wherever you land you will need central AC. Home prices in this area seem to be going down and things take longer to sell. I do miss the East Bay but I am happy here and we are close enough I can come and visit easily.
We're a queer biracial family that moved from the East Bay to Sacramento during the pandemic, shortly after my son was born. We love it.
The neighborhoods I'd recommend are East Sac, Midtown, Curtis Park, Land Park, South Land Park, Oak Park and Tahoe Park (the first four are generally more expensive, the latter three generally less). I strongly prefer Sacramento proper over the suburbs (e.g., Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills, etc), both culturally and lifestyle-wise, though you can certainly get a lot more house for your money and the school districts are better rated in the suburbs.
And you really do get used to the heat! There's AC everywhere, you do your best to spend your daytime outdoor-time in water and because it's a dry heat, it cools down in the morning/at night.
Feel free to message me directly -- I'd be happy to chat about our experience and answer any questions.
When my kids were much younger (around 10 years ago), we seriously considered Davis. It really seems like a wonderful community and has excellent public schools. It does get hot.
We have good friends who have lived in Roseville for 20 years with two kids (now teens). They were not Bay Area "refugees" but are extremely liberal even by Bay Area standards. They have entirely checked out of local politics because Placer County is very conservative as a county, and the local school boards are also pretty conservative by Bay Area standards. Their kids go to a charter where they have had a few issues over the years with individual teachers but nothing as bad (in their mind) compared to the local public school board policies.
Highly recommend Land Park or South Land Park. Beautiful tree lined streets, charming houses, great schools, close to downtown and midtown, biking trails, museums, William Land Park has a small zoo (that's moving to Elk Grove in the next 5 years), Fairytale Town, and Funderland. We moved from Richmond in 2022 and have a preschooler. Love it here. The heat is pretty intense this time of year but the winters are mild, closer to the Sierra snow, and spring and fall are gorgeous.