North and South California

U.S.A. California

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Can somebody tell me the difference between northern and southern Cali? How much is the rate for nurse, the cost of living? Do you think where is the best place for a family of 5?

What can you say about Riverside area? Thanks alot.;)

I live in Sacramento, which is great because we're no more than a 2 hour drive from mountains, snow, redwoods, San Francisco or beaches! We live close to downtown Sacramento and couldn't afford to buy in our neighborhood anymore. Our house is 1150 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and is worth about $450k.

From what I have been able to find on the CNA website, nurses in their first year at Kaiser are making $35 an hour...

I haven't started school yet, so I have no clue what the other hospitals pay, but we live really close to Mercy General, Kaiser, Sutter Memorial, Sutter General, Sutter Cancer Center, UC Davis Med Center... There are a lot of hospitals near here where I wouldn't have to worry about traffic in the morning! :)

That said, I've lived in Sacramento County all my life. I really like it here and thank God for air conditioning every summer!

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That said, I've lived in Sacramento County all my life. I really like it here and thank God for air conditioning every summer!

:yeahthat: [also sac county...] The problem with most of Cali, as Elisabeth pointed out, is that you need to sell of body parts in order to buy a decent home.

Marie88: Your profile states that your country is UK-USA. Does that mean you live in the UK and WANT to come to the USA, or that you are in the states already?

If you have lived in the UK all your life, but have never been to the states, then Elisabeth brings highlights one of the drawbacks of our fine state...in the summer, temperatures can reach into the 100-120 degree Fahrenheit range. My rellies (all from the UK) have already learned never to visit in the summertime.

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compare with other area, much more pollution in L.A

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

I have lived in Calaveras Cty, NorCal, for over 10 years. That is after living in SoCal for 35 years. No comparison really, I think there is a difference between the two. Now with that said, I still work in SoCal where I ahve been for 30 years. The money is too good to give up, new contract with a 16% raise over 2 years. I work in the OR and pretty much go anywhere, but stay where I am at. I LOVE living where I do, out in the Sierras on 5 acres. I couldn't stand the traffic or people anymore and had to get out of the IE. Riverside, IMHO, really sucks because of the people on people and the traffic! Once you get past Fresno it seems the atmosphere just changes, hard to explain. Cost are really about the same in all areas except real estate. The Bay area is really out of range unless you have lived there for many years. I probably couldn't aford my house today unless I hadn't bought it 10 years ago. Everybody's opinion is going to be different, so come out and stay awhile and enjoy the weather!

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I just moved here from Maryland. My husbands job relocated us out here. He works in Santa Clara and we live in the East Bay Area. We live in Livermore, CA. It's beautiful here. We love it!! The weather is gorgeous, there is a lot to do here. We did go to Monterey and it was gorgeous!!! Absolutely the best!!! It was very relaxing the the views were awesome. We drove down this road called 17 mile and I recommend that to everyone!! We plan on going back because we bought season tickets to the aquarium, which I believe is ranked #1 in the country. It was awesome.

The cost of living is expensive here but I think the salaries are comparable. We moved from the DC area of Maryland and it is just as expensive but the salaries were not comparable. We have a bigger house out here then we did in Maryland. The house was expensive but since my salary increased by $40,000 it allowed us to buy a more expensive house. We have a 3400 sqft. 5 bedroom, 4 bath single family house (our first single family), 3 car garage. Expensive Yes, but affordable for us. We could have found a house cheaper but we needed extra bedrooms and we wanted something big because our kids are 14, 9 and they aren't getting smaller. We don't plan to move for a long time so we figured, get a big house that we could slowly grow into. :) We did a search of homes around here and found that you get more for your money in Livermore. We are about 45 mins from downtown SF, 20 mins from Oakland, hubby drive to Santa Clara sometimes 45 mins. He also takes the ACE train which is nice. He said traffic isn't too bad for him.

Salary wise. I got several job offers. Just to help you gage salaries. I have 2 yrs experience. A small community hospital offered me $46/hr. I'm per diem so I got an additional $5.25hr, plus $5/hr after 3pm. When I was in orientation, I made friends with another nurse, she had 7 years exp and was making $62/hr as perdiem. It seems like you get $1/hr extra for each year of experience. Another hospital, my full time job, I make $55/hr for night shift. I hope that helps. Rent out here isn't too bad. You rent a 2300 sq.ft home for $2000/month. The $55/hr job is less than 10 miles from my house!!!!! Love it!!!!!!! :) I was surprised they paid that much for being a small community hospital. I did interview for a job in Stockton, They wanted to start me at $38/hr. The cost of living out there is cheaper. You can get a brand new house in the $400-500,000. The drive was too far for me. Great opportunity out there but it is 40 miles from me. Oh, I made $27.50/hr in a DC hospital!!!! Just to give you an idea!! Made me realize the DC area salaries need to increase.

Good luck in getting out here. I think the move was expensive. If it wasnt' for my husbands company relocating us out here and paying for the move, we probably wouldn't be here. Email me if you have any more questions.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I have a friend and her family who have been lifelong residents of Riverside, CA. As So. CA communities goes, it's not by far the worst. There are still some agricultural areas (very few and far between) and it's a VERY diverse population. You will need to use some caution about where you choose to live. There is a lot to do nearby (mountains, Vegas (desert), etc.). The beach is about an hour away and San Diego is a little over the same.

There are still some lovely areas in Northern CA depending on what you are looking for. My mother lived in Oroville, north of Sacramento, for many years and it was a terrific little town. I have a friend who lives outside of Folsom in a very rural area and likes it a great deal. I also have family in central CA (Fresno) and they seem to like their life there a great deal over living in So. CA.

I think a lot of your decision should rest on the type of area you are looking for (agricultural, rural, city-living) and spend some time investigating the school districts that you considering moving to should you have children.

Trying to spend a little time visiting is a good idea, but it really takes time to determine if an area is where you truly want to relocate to.

Best wishes!!

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I have a friend and her family who have been lifelong residents of Riverside, CA. As So. CA communities goes, it's not by far the worst. There are still some agricultural areas (very few and far between) and it's a VERY diverse population. You will need to use some caution about where you choose to live. There is a lot to do nearby (mountains, Vegas (desert), etc.). The beach is about an hour away and San Diego is a little over the same.

Prices are coming way down in southern california, I live in Riverside County Temecula beautiful city great place to raise a family love love it here and very affordable housing (right now). However that said, no decent hospitals at all! I am not a nurse yet but I can tell you as a resident and student, we are seriously suffering hurt from lack of medical care.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Aren't they doing some building out near the Hemet area? My mom had sent me an article some time before she passed away about expanding hospitals in that region? I realize it's a bit east, but it's also not all that far away?!?!

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Aren't they doing some building out near the Hemet area? My mom had sent me an article some time before she passed away about expanding hospitals in that region? I realize it's a bit east, but it's also not all that far away?!?!

Not that I am aware of, we are suposed to be building a new hospital right near where I live, I was excited at first they even have the sign up, however its only a 120 bed hospital at best and its being fought over still, so who knows. I have a child that needs to see renal dr we have to go to san diego all the time, we were lacking help up here that caused major damage to his kidney, and its due to lack of facilities, anything for your children you need to go to LA or san diego, my husband has to go to Riverside to see his dr, there is just nothing but general stuff here more like a holding place if you get stuck in a pinch and have to be transported some place else.

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Specializes in O.R..

You have a wonderful move from DC to NorCal. Im still looking for a place in NorCal which is better for the whole family.

Good luck in getting out here. I think the move was expensive. If it wasnt' for my husbands company relocating us out here and paying for the move, we probably wouldn't be here. Email me if you have any more questions.

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I truly left my heart in the SF Bay area and am as homesick as can be. Only left for employment reasons and another personal reason. If you have greater employment opportunities due to your circumstances, you can be more selective about the area of Cali that you settle in. Or move around every few years and see it all. You just can't beat Cali, especially the Bay! You know, San Francisco days, San Francisco nights!

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