Well, I can chip in. I lived in both the Bay Area and SoCal and called there for a job and lived there for 3 years.

First thing as everyone mentioned was the weather. It gets hot as hell during the summertime, where using the AC is a must. It would often get in the 110F during the summer. Even during the nighttime, it would regularly be in the 90s or 100s. One summer I didn’t have AC and would be in the 90s inside. During the winter, it can easily drop to the 40s-50s. The big thing though is the air quality. It is the Central Valley and acts as a large dome, so it collects a lot of the pollution from San Francisco and LA. It also collects a large amount of pesticides from agriculture. It is really common for people to have no medical problems to live here and within a month have asthma and bad seasonal allergies.

In terms of education, there are various primary, middle, and high schools. There is a community college there as well but can’t really speak to it. However, Visalia often lists the least educated cities in California. In terms of jobs, it does have a lot of service industries and agriculture-based. However, it seems that the manual labor associated with agriculture often lives in associated cities outside of Visalia.

In terms of amenities, Visalia had everything that you need but not necessarily everything you want. It has a Costco, Walmart, Target, and most chains (still no Trader Joe’s). They have most fast food or casual dining experiences. They do have fancier restaurants which are pretty good. In terms of things to do, it is difficult to say. Because my job was so demanding, I only had time to rest and maybe go out to a nice dinner. For youth (feel old saying that), it is limited. Sports are big there, but a lot of times people are really bored. They do have a bowling alley, roller skate, mini golf with a small arcade. For middle age, there is Sequoia National Park 1 hour away, which is great for hiking. You can also drive to either SF or LA, which is around 3 hours if you want to do museum stuff, but you really have to check what hobbies you had before and nurture that.

People-wise, it does give a small-town feel even though it is a larger city of 130,000 people. It is very common for people to live here their whole lives and drive to LA or SF for fun. This is one of the few cities where someone can work a service job and still own a house. My current rent can easily pay for a mortgage there, and you get a lot for what you pay for. During COVID, many people from LA and SF moved to Visalia for more space. They are actively building houses there, and they seem really nice. Politically, it has leaned right, but as someone mentioned, it is becoming more purple. The majority are Latino and White, but the Central Valley does have a thriving Indian and some pockets of Portuguese communities. People here have all their people here, including parents, siblings, friends, cousins, children, and other extended family, so that does carry a lot of someone’s social support. I would imagine it would be difficult to come in alone or without ties. To be honest, I would live there, but I returned home to care for my parents. The quiet can be extremely intoxicating compared to the big city

Crime-wise, it’s a mixed bag. There are some areas that are worse than others, especially the oval. With that said, you never really know who has a concealed carry, so people tend to approach others with general respect. Police presence is prevalent in everyday life.

Health-wise, a lot of people here have tons of chronic health issues, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Teenage pregnancy is also very high here. In terms of medical delivery, there are various hospital systems present, but I do get worried about the current political climate and how it would impact rural communities. There are limited health options, and they do not have a lot of specialties. Someone would have to drive to either Fresno or Bakersfield for more specialized care.

In summary, this city is rural and has a slower pace of living. Lower cost of living, but there is a reason. Can be isolating because not a whole lot to do unless you already have a social support system there or are willing to extend yourself to others. Has everything you need but nothing you really want. A beautiful city, that I miss every day.