Potential move to CA from TX

[goingCOASTAL]

Family considerations may have me considering a California move in the next 6-12 months. I'm currently in the Houston market, and am wondering which areas more closely resemble the economic climate there (salary, real estate, crime, etc.)

[kimpatrtan]

Hey! I'm actually doing the same but the opposite direction and hope you can exchange the same info.

In terms of Houston culture,I would think central California might be closer. A mix of risk and urban that I kinda felt whenever I'm in Houston. Bakersfield is an example. They also lean to the right politically. More conservative.

Climate wise, it's generally not humid in California. Northern California maybe but it's cool humidity if anything. I'm from los Angeles where temperatures are in the 70s and 80s most of the year. The summer can hit the 90s and 100s inland and in the valleys but not for very long.

Crime wise, I actually think it's safer in los Angeles but I may be biased. South/southeast LA is of course infamous for gang violence but personal experience 80% of LA is survivable even for a single woman like me.

If you have experience then you shouldn't have a difficult time getting a position. There's the big medical facilities like ucla and usc but there's hundreds of community hospitals and medical centers that are hiring. Even the smallest hospital pays more than medical center hospitals in Houston because of the higher cost of living.

Hope this helps.

[kimpatrtan]

Sorry I forgot the most important thing.... housing.

Los Angeles at least has sky high rent. Brace yourself. But opening yourself up to commutes opens up possibilities. Looking 30-60 minutes away from city center can be the difference between 1200 a month being a studio apartment/hole in the wall and a 900$ two/three bedroom.

[mkatts19]

Hi! I'm from California, went to nursing school there and all but I go back and forth between there and Houston. What part do you currently live in now? Cost wise, it is NOTHING like how Houston is. There are huge houses for 200,00 but in California it's triple the price for a slightly smaller (but still large) home. What parts of Houston do you favor the most? IE Nightclubs, arts, recreation etc aside from the things you mentioned? I ask because I've lived in a couple places in Southern California and depending on what you're looking for, there's always something for everyone :).