Need Advice - Socal possibly moving to Norcal (Job Offer)

I just got a job offer in Dixon. It's about 20 minutes southwest of Sacramento. I currently live about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. I recently graduated with my BSME and this is my first offer. I am seriously considering taking it. However, I don't know the first thing about the area. I was up there for my interview last Monday, but didn't get to see much. Most of the people that work at the company I would be working at in Dixon live outside of the city. Either in Sacramento or Vacaville. Does anyone have any information on the area? How is it living there? Average price for a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment? Things to do? How far from Yosemite? Lake Tahoe? Traffic? Questions like that. Any information is greatly appreciated. Please do not tell me to look stuff up online. I have a little already and plan to do more. But I would like the Norcal TW member's opinions. I Only have a few days to decide! Thank you all.

 

Had an offer to move out that way, but turned it down due to cost of living.

 

From what I've seen I can get a pretty decent apartment for 800-950/month. I saw some in the 600's but they were not appealing.

 

As far as being from tahoe you are about a 2-3 hour drive each way IIRC. Its about 4-5 when we leave from the SF bay. You are close to Yosemite. I do not remember how long it takes us to get there.

 

That's closer to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite is a bit farther but that estimate is good for travel time.

I lived in the North Bay off/on for about 10 years. Dixon is just a suburb of Sacramento, like all the rest of those towns on the 80. Plenty of stuff to do.

 

Ok. Thanks. The three places I was eyeballing to live are Sacramento, Vacaville, and Fairfield.

 

yosemite should be about 4 hours. san fran from dixon without traffic should be maybe an hour-ish. Try looking up Davis, CA. It's a college town and only 15-20 minutes up the freeway but you may find some more appealing apartments.

 

Dixon is largely an ag town and dead flat in the middle of the valley. It would not be my first choice to live unless I was into rodeo and sheep. It is just down the highway from Davis and UC Davis. Lots of restauarants and shows/music typical of a university town. Housing in Davis is very expensive.

Sac is a very nice city, lots of old architecture and huge shade trees, history, lots of great food, bars, the river/boating/jetskiing, American River Bike Trail for outdoors, flyfishing, salmon runs, etc. Rivercats baseball, Kings NBA, if you give a damn about that (but they are always about to leave because the Maloofs suck) Great mountainbiking in the foothills near Auburn. Lots of windsurfing and boating in the Delta. Lots of wine in Napa, and increasingly in the Delta and Lodi, and the best is in Amador County, up near Placerville.

Fairfield and Vacaville are closer to hills for mountainbiking, hiking, etc. but I've never down much more than drive past them. They seem to have some nice areas.

In addition to being nice towns, being close to the Sierras for snowsports and hiking, backpacking is great. About 2 hours to the Sierra crest. Yosemite will take about 4, just because of the nature of the mountain roads, and sometimes tourist traffic. Coast Range is nearby, and the coast itself about 2 hours, depending on what part you go to.

That said the I-80 corridor can be a bitch. It gets congested on weekends with everyone going back and forth to all these places, and between the Bay and Tahoe. If you time things right and use Sigalert, you can avoid the worst of it.

If I were going to work in Dixon, I would aim to live in Sac or maybe Vacaville or Fairfield.

Hot in summer (100s), cold in winter (high 20s)...derp. The Delta Breeze comgin in from the Bay cools off the Valley on summer evenings, really nice in time for a barbecue and for sleeping with the windows open.

Hope this helps.

 

X2 - that's some good info right there and I totally agree.

That being said if he "lived" in Dixon he could avoid the commute, agreed?

 

Yup, might be nice and quiet, too.

Depends on what you want to do on off hours...

 

If youre gonna live in sac, go as far east as possible. Problem is you already too far from Sac to make it worth while. I was never that comfortable in west sac. Fairfield looks nice though. I've only been here for almost 2 years now. If trying to get to east of sac like Tahoe, traffic is really bad around rush hour trying to get across.
Other than that, you're somewhat in the middle of everything here touristy and such.

 

Don't gooooo!

 

If I were in your position, I'd take the hit and move up to work there for a year or two for experience. In any job industry, experience is key, the second is advancement. If you show strong leadership skills and advance in that time that's great. However, if there's an opportunity for a better job elsewhere that is more oriented to your career goals, do it.

Basically what I'm saying is, get your job there, put your A game in, but also watch out for other opportunities. This should be your main intentions during your first year out of college.

 

Yea I've been to Davis a long time ago. I was thinking avoid it due to the high cost and college atmosphere.

Great post! Thanks a lot. Sounds like there is enough to keep me occupied when I'm not at work . If I move out of here I want to get away from the traffic. If I move to Sac and work in Dixon I should be opposite of traffic both ways right?

Living where the job is always avoids a commute

I like nice and quiet but I don't want it to drive me nuts. I would like some action now and then. I think if I moved to Dixon I might be in for too much of a shock.

Yea I don't think I want to drive across Sac and then down. As little of a commute as possible would be great.

I agree. And I would be getting some great experience. But if I end up liking the company I don't mind staying with them. As long as I like the area too.

Thank you all for the input so far!

 

But I thought you are into sheep?

 

Bump for more opinions. Also, if anyone could just vote between Vacaville/Fairfield and Sacramento.

 

first thing that pop in to my mind when i see those 3 places

Vacaville = shopping
Fairfield = ghetto
and Sacramento = hot as balls

 

I think it would be mostly opposite commute. A lot of people do commute into Sac from all directions.
I imagine you are looking to rent an apartment? West Sac is closest for you, but as Brain pointed out, might not be the right vibe. The old area can be nasty, and the new area is all new suburban development with no soul. Midtown can be pretty fun, but can be noisy in the wrong parts, and parking can be tough. But you can walk to almost any bar, club or retaurant. I loved living down there. If you get serious, I can offer more advice.

What the fuck do you have against sheep, Chris? They're cuddly AND delicious!

Sac is about the same as Walnut Creek and Sant Rosa for heat, but the Delta breeze on summer evenings is awesome. Sidewalk dining, Second Saturday art and music all over the place like a massive all-city street party.

Low 90s in the summer are pretty common in July and Aug, with occasional heat waves topping 100 for a few days at a time. Basically, Sac is about 10 degrees hotter and cooler than the SF Bay Area max temp range.

You want balls hot? Redding and Fresno, and they don't get a Delta breeze at night, either.

 

Closer to Gayson...
I need to move up that way so we can get the group together again. Gaybraham is a few hours away too

 

Yes apartment. And temperatures don't bother me. I would like a safe place obviously. Part of me is saying rent an apartment in Dixon just so I don't have to commute to work. If I accept the job I'll hit you up for more advice. Thanks.