Sad part is I'm consider to move there with the right job offer.
I'm not going to go into politics, but will only look at schools, income level, crime, and homelessness, then here is my advie to you as a life long kaliforniastanian:
There are some communities left that are decent places to live, but keep in mind those decent places to live are extremely expensive, because the riff-raft can't afford to live there.
In orange county, Irvine and any place south of Irvine is a great place to live if you can afford it.
In Los Angeles county, calabasis and parts of the san fernando valley, pasadena, La Canada, are still decent if you can afford it.
In the san francisco area, cupertino, palto alto, san mateo are decent, but the prices of real estate are INSANE.
San Diego is still okay to live for the most part, as long as you stay away south of Downtown and the border area's.....for obvious reasons. Most people tend to stay in the north counties or coastal enclaves.
Santa Barbara and ventura county, is still good for the most part, but not alot of job prospects in those areas mainly because its more of a retirement/tourist destination (santa barbara) or agricultural (ventura county).
I'd stay away from san francisco proper, Los angeles proper, fresno, sacramento, and most of the inland empire (san bernadino county), bakersfield, Lancaster, palmdale, etc.
Now if you want to throw politics into the mix:
You want to live in either republican controlled counties, or in the counties where the democrat ELITE lives (not where they govern). In the democrat controlled counties, the democrat elite tend to live in the hills behind guard gated communities, but turn their counties into crapholes. They tend to live in the area's i listed above)...its ironic they don't live in the area's they turn into crapholes.
If you get stuck in any of the downtown area's, inner cities, or metropolitan areas, be prepared for high crime, high traffic, high homelessness, high taxes, high poverty, poor infrastructure, high pollution, rude people, poor schools, and high rent/property and lots of um....loud non english music........lol.
I won't say kaliforniastan is as bad as Landcruiser says, but its getting there. California wasn't this bad until maybe the beginning of 2000, and has gone down hill ever since. Alot of it has to do with the influx of illegals, and then the economy crashing in the late 2010ish didn't help matters. In the last few years, there has been an explosion of homelessness, and crime.....
Alot of us who want to leave can't, either due to jobs or family, but trust me...MANY OF US have been thinking of getting out and moving to colorado, washington, oregon, utah, or texas. I have been lucky to have a job that gives me the juxury to go ski/snowboard in utah/colorado, and to go offroading in arizona and nevada on my free time, and there is a HUGE difference between california and the neighboring states in both socio-economic and political freedom.
Those that love it here...well......... you should ask them why they love it here.... I can't answer for them.
Also, you should visit ANY of the beaches on the weekend................. you will change your mind about california beaches..... As a san diego local that love the beach/watersports/fishing, I only go on the weekday......................During the weekend, the beaches turn into a free for all.
I'm already in the NYC metro area, so let me know if the SF Bay area is a downgrade or upgrade at this point.
