We have an opportunity to move to Santa Rosa, Ca from Salt Lake City and not sure what to do.....We can afford a home up to $400,000 but scared we'll end up in a shack with Northern California prices. Does anyone know Santa Rosa? What are the schools, air quality, cost of living like?? Good Schools are really important to us.
It's tough because our home in SLC is worth $400,000 and is a 2 story, 2800 sq.ft, large wooded lot. I hate the thought of leaving SLC but this really is a good opportunity and feel I should accept it. Losing sleep and need some help from anyone familiar with No.California. Thanks so much, Tara

Tara: I hope you also have job opportunities in Santa Rosa. The highway up there needs to be expanded and commuting is not too fun. Santa Rosa has grown quite a bit since I moved to the San Francisco Area, but it is a lovely area right in the heart of wine country. You may want to check a real estate website for avg. Home prices. In general I think the East side of town is a nicer area with better schools. This would be Rincon Valley, Bennett Valley side. Depending on where you need to live for work you may want to look into neighboring communities like Kenwood, Healdsburg and Sebastopol. It is also just a short trip from Santa Rosa to the Ocean or San Francisco.

Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County. Try looking at www.sonoma.com and see if you can get a couple realtors. If you can afford the housing it would be a great place to live. Air quality very good, don't know about schools, sorry. Housing more affordable that in SF, Marin or on the Pennisula, but can't quote actual prices. Good luck.

Sebastopol is about 20 minutes from Santa Rosa. It has an excellent high school, Analy. It is an artsy community, with health food stores. It has small town appeal with lots of festivities, and good food markets. You can get a good home there for $400,000 or Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa does have good areas. It is larger, with Hwy 101 going right thru it. The air quality is better in Sebastopol. The cost of living is the same in both areas.

Tara,

I have to disagree with the prior post--you cannot get a GOOD home in a GOOD neighborhood for $400,000 if you require a home over about 1,500 sq ft. Sebastopol does not have a lot of homes available as the community has avoided any development. I do agree that Sebastopol has great school districts. Larger homes on small lots are available in Santa Rosa in your price range, but they are not in the best neighborhoods. One of the best school districts in the area is Rincon Valley Elementary on the east side of Santa Rosa. The middle schools and high schools on the east side are very good also. Commuting into Santa Rosa from other communities is a real hassle so should be considered when making decisions about where to live. On the other hand, air quality is better the further away from Santa Rosa you get. Sonoma County is a wonderful place to live--so much to do in the area, beautiful surroundings, great climate--but like any area of the country, you get the bitter with the better! I hope you find what you're looking for and come to love this area as much as us "locals."