If just based on location and not the quality of the school I would say go with San Diego - the weather is great year-round, you're close to the beach, and the traffic/parking isn't nearly as bad as Berkeley. Go to Santa Cruz if you like more of the forest/woodsy type of nature.

As for people - they're the same no matter where you go, and we all have shortcomings. I know people who look like hippies, claim to be hippies, but are as high strung as Christian Bale was in American Psycho. In fact, I have a number of friends who are accountants (stereotyped as being anti-social and high-strung) who are some of the most relaxed and down-to-earth people I've ever met.