Janvande

Will be moving to CA very soon. Researching best town/city to move to. Only restriction is it should be anywhere north or Fresno. Here's the challenge: looking for lower cost-of-living area (matching Georgia as much as possible). Can't afford the high-cost areas (which apparently covers most of CA) and don't need poverty areas either. Where is the in-between? Currently living in Metro Atlanta. I can drive a half hr in one direction and be in "the country" with the cows & horses or in the other direction and be in downtown Atlanta. That's an ideal kind of area - close to "things to see & do & the night life -and- close to nature. Any suggestions?

dwooddon

Since you didn't say anything in your post about needing to be near airports, etc, I assume a rural area would work. If so, try some of the little towns along Calif Hwy 49. They are high enough to be out of the heat and fog of the valley but not so high as to get much severe weather in winter. Many of them have deep historical connections to the gold rush era and almost all of them are charming and scenic.

J_Correa

I was thinking the central valley area or the gold country as well. If you don't need to be close to any population centers, you might consider the Redding area.

Anything within a an hour drive of a city will probably be too high, except maybe some outlying areas around Sacramento.

What kind of work do you do?

DavidDJ

The Sacramento area, located at the foothills of the Sierra mountains, would be ideal for you. The population of Sacramento is about the same as that of Atlanta (about 400,000) and the cost of living is very reasonable especially when compared to the big cities in the state (Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Jose). There are rural areas just outside of the city and you are about 2 hours from Lake Tahoe. You have the advantages of the city with the quiet atmosphere of the country close by.

Bob1

Sacramento is probably going to be your best bet moving from Atlanta. Many people from the Bay Area are moving there to beat the cost of living. The weather is going to be hotter than the Bay Area, but nothing you don't already experience in Atlanta.

Fresno? Nice town, but probably not enough services for you if you need the big city things.

Quinty

Also Davis which is mostly a college town West of Sacramento. Very small town feel by California standards.

Surfergirl

Davis is nice, and good college town. If you want upcoming small town, not terribly expensive, consider Oakhurst, just north of Fresno, just south of Yosemite Nat'l Park.

Grasshopper

How about more north; Chico, Redding, Red Bluff?

Cole

I was going to suggest Auburn. It is just outside Sacramento towards Lake Tahoe. Close enough to Sacto to commute but out of the heat. That summer heat is misery at 100+. I was born/raised in Fresno with similar temps.

janis

Sacramento, Davis, Auburn, Roseville, Folsom Placerville would all meet your needs. All are in the Gebreal Sacramento area. There are some very expensive areas, but the average will be a lot less than LA or SF areas.

Chico is a nice college town - but a long drive from any city. Redding is to be avoided. Not a terrible town - but a looooong way from any transport options and hotter than H**L in the summer. If it reaches 100F or 105F in Sac, it will be 110F or 112F and hazy in Redding.

And don't panic about all the 100F + talk. Just forget the word humidity . . The hotter it gets in the central valley (Sacramento) the lower the humidity goes.

When it hits 100 (normally about 12 to 20 days a year) the average humidity will be around 20 or 30%. In fact 30% is pretty high. Don't get me wrong, 100F is hot anywhere -- but 100F in Sacramento is MUCH more comfortable than 85F at 85% humidity on the east coast. Plus it cools down into the 60's or low 70's every night.

janis

that should read "general" Sacramento area.

Underhill

Housing in Davis has become quite expensive, partly because of growth controls, but the nearby towns of Winters, Dixon, and Woodland are still somewhat affordable.