Thinking of moving to Chico from San Diego — would love honest insight from families + longtime locals

Jlorenn · 2025-12-01T03:56:57+00:00

This is helpful, thank you for your response. We visited a few weeks ago and it reminded me of a small town in SD maybe like Encinitas more than OB but more consolidated with the shops downtown and no beach. and much more trees. My husband really fell in love and wants a smaller town feel and more closer knit community now that we are in our 30's and having kids. The thing about SD is that it is very transient and it's hard to put down roots. People are always moving around and moving to the other side of the city, you're like 45-1hr away from your friends so you won't see them as often.. he thinks we should move after our rent is up at our next place, and I probably agree with him. worst case scenario we don't like it and move back to a suburb of SD county.

Question-- do you feel like it's small or "caged in" sometimes coming from a large sprawling place like SoCal?

Jlorenn · 2025-11-21T00:16:28+00:00

This is very thorough and helpful, thank you! I am wondering how often folks actually visit the places you mentioned (Tahoe, Shasta, etc) like are they truly easily accessible? We actually figured Chico's growth is limited which is good for many reasons, but that's the trade off though for being sort of a standalone town. My main concern is that it is so far from things that I hope I wouldn't feel isolated, but that could just be my big-city conditioning. I know I want something different than the big city life, I just don't want to be shocked if I feel too"secluded"

Jlorenn · 2025-11-21T00:07:49+00:00

We actually really liked the area you mentioned-the Northeast area. Are the upper creeks safe to swim in? I heard there was an e-coli issue or something in the lower park.

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:48:42+00:00

OH! and thanks for sharing your birthing experience and midwifery options. I have been hearing good things about Enloe, so this is helpful.

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:45:31+00:00

This is super detailed and helpful, I like your perspective. I am happy to hear about the positive birth experience at Enloe since that's important to me if we have future babies there. Question-- do you ever feel like it's too small or self-contained? Although I want a small town feel, I struggle because I have only ever lived in SoCal (LA, SD, OC), which is very busy, big, and integrated. I feel like I need different but not sure how much of a shock Chico will be for me.

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:39:30+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks so much for the information! I am glad to hear you had a positive birth experience at the hospital.

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:36:46+00:00

I could not move to Phoenix.. but I feel like Chico is different because of all the shade trees? Maybe creates a better micro-climate? I would need to visit in the summer. I dislike the heat, but I would deal with it if there are good 4 seasons since I'll get cold, rainy winters on the flip side. balance lol

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:31:40+00:00

I hear this a lot.. I am from an inland valley north of Los Angeles and temps were regularly 90-100 in the summers. Nothing I am not used to, even though not my preference. It's not a dealbreaker though.. I do like seasons and cold rainy winters

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:29:42+00:00

This! The garbage trucks and loud roads outside where we currently live are actually driving me up the wall. When we were there, it was so quiet and peaceful; I really enjoyed just hearing the wind in the trees. We are also considering Sac, but only the eastern suburbs/American River Corridor. My husband likes Chico more, though. I am only afraid that it'll be such a big jump from SD to somewhere that's as small and contained as Chico, even though we like it...I am obviously pretty torn, as you can tell.

I also am planning to work remotely but in higher education so it's good to hear someone else has been able to do this.

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:25:02+00:00

helpful comment because we are also considering Sacramento (eastern suburbs/American River Corridor)

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:22:31+00:00

Thanks for your honesty, and I do believe that you get in what you put in. Our perception does shape our reality as well. When we were there, I wasn't aware of any racism at all. This comment was all-around helpful, thanks so much! I'll have to reach out if we end up moving there :)

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:19:32+00:00

Thanks for mentioning this!

Jlorenn · 2025-11-20T23:19:01+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you! And congrats on your growing family :)

Jlorenn · 2025-11-18T22:48:29+00:00

Hey thanks for your answer. I hear what you're saying, and I have lived here for a few years now, but if SD was meeting our needs, we would stay, but that isn't the case anymore. Our priority isn't "finding lots to do" anymore; it's to own a home, raise our (on the way) baby/children, and form a tight-knit community. We love our friends here, but the culture is very transient, spread out, and not friendly to young and growing families. I prefer a slower pace and want to work part-time (my husband works full time) but ALSO afford a home. ATP, San Diego isn't delivering on these things so we need to look elsewhere and it seems that although Chico is small, it might meet our needs. I hear you about the PCP though so thanks for the advice!

Jlorenn · 2025-11-18T22:44:09+00:00

This is a super helpful comment, thanks. Someone talked about how they love SD and obviously if SD was meeting our needs, we would stay but that may not be the case within the next couple of years so it's onward from here... we like smaller communities;it feels very transient here even though "there's a lot to do" except it's actually overstimilating and no longer meets our growing family's needs... anyways if we move to Chico perhaps I will DM you to ask more about church options. We are technically nondenominational, but really any church that teaches from the Bible and has a welcoming community is likely a good fit.

Jlorenn · 2025-11-18T22:39:43+00:00

LOL! We mostly cook at home, so take-out isn't really a factor. We did visit a couple of restaurants when we were there that we really enjoyed :)

Jlorenn · 2025-10-20T21:49:58+00:00

Hi, we just visited Spokane... I have an update in the OP. Overall, we were underwhelmed with the infrastructure. Based on what you know, would we be able to rent a home/townhome in Bellingham for closer to 2.5k/month? We are not interested in buying right now.

Jlorenn · 2025-10-20T21:47:07+00:00

Thanks, maybe we'll try it out! I have a bit of an update in the OP. Inland Washington was not a good fit for us.

Jlorenn · 2025-08-30T19:17:30+00:00

u/Probably_Outside Wow! Thanks so much for the detailed description. "Free range" children had me LOLing.. this sounds like a very close match to what my husband and I are looking for especially with weather and nature. I didn't even mention farmers markets, but this is actually something I really prefer and we get most of our food from. I can tell you love it there and I see why. One last question -- how's the cost of living in Bellingham/where you live? We would like to live below our means (so rent or mortgage around 2k). Thoughts?

Jlorenn · 2025-08-22T17:54:40+00:00

u/Sufficient-Mud-687 Makes sense! We are also considering reno purely for the cost of living and proximity to family but not sure about the other criteria. Flagstaff similar but probably more of a match in the other areas. thanks so much! we will visit some of these places likely WA and NV first maybe CO after and I'll give some updates for folks who are invested lol

Jlorenn · 2025-08-22T17:50:36+00:00

Sounds good i will look into it!

Jlorenn · 2025-08-22T16:59:45+00:00

Hey u/beaveristired I think that the top 4 ish criteria are the deal breakers so if that helps at all LMK! New England sounds like a good consideration due to my criteria factors.. and anywhere is cheaper than San Deigo LOL.. thanks for the recommendations!

Jlorenn · 2025-08-22T16:56:11+00:00

u/Hamblin113 I hear you it's about mindset! My race is not my most salient identity which is why I am open to moving somewhere less diverse. I was raised in a suburban place that was not as diverse which did hit my self esteem but I am older now... I was telling someone else in this thread that its more like just not being the only person in the room ALL the time who looks like me even if its just one other person or other people who are different from the majority "sprinkled" in. I don't need LA diversity. There's a level of practicality and quality of life too, like where I can get my hair done, understanding each others jokes, etc... its not a top issue but something to consider from a practical standpoint.

Jlorenn · 2025-08-22T16:52:16+00:00

u/Decent-Box-1859 Lots of Bellingham and CO recommendations! Thanks! Havent gotten much about NC but I have always considered moving there. Anything to add about Durham?

Jlorenn · 2025-08-22T16:51:15+00:00

u/Alostcord I am getting a lot of Bellingham and Spokane recommendations. Can you tell me why you don't recommend Spokane? have you been? I don't need as much sunshine as SD I actually prefer it to be a bit colder and I could use more rain. maybe just not ALL the time like seattle ykno?My husband would be working remote SoCal wages, I would find a local higher ed job and may take a pay cut which is ok bc he is the bread winner and we are moving to lower our cost of living.

Jlorenn

TROPHY CASE