Expert: Ernest Tufft - 1/25/2010

Question
I am from a rural town in Southern Illinois.  Over the past year, during visits, I have fallen in love with Southern California.  My family and I are seriously thinking of relocating there, but we desire somewhat the same set-up for our hometown in California as we do for our hometown in Illinois.  So, my question is, are there any nice, quiet little towns in Southern California?  A population between 2,000 & 15,000 or so, with good (safe) schools, and a modest cost of living are also big factors.  Do such places exist?  Of course I have looked up cities in California that meet my population guidelines, only to find out the they are small because only the rich can afford to live there…not what I am looking for at all.  We travel an hour to get to a decent sized city where we live now, and we are 5 hours from Chicago…so we are OK with having to drive to “see and do things”.  So, if we could find a town much like our current one, only in Southern California, then my family could enjoy all the comforts of home, without the yearly tornado’s, blistering winters, we can get relief from our Psoriasis from the many days of sunlight (it is a hereditary skin disorder and sunlight is the ONLY natural thing that heals it and keeps it at bay) as well as get relief from the 90% humidity and allergens that plague the area we are in now.  I guess what I am saying is that people always say “Listen to your body.”.  I am listening, and my respiratory system, skin, and overall well being are all screaming CALIFORNIA!  Any help you can give me in finding nice little communities in Southern California would be fantastic.  Thanks.

Ryan


Answer
Ryan,

I am familiar with Southern Illinois, and find little in Southern California that compares with the community life found there.  However, consider these places in your research:  1) Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, etc--Central Coast area.  2) Desert regions--Bishop, Hisperia, Victorville, Needles, Blythe, etc.  3) Central Valley--Bakersfield, Taft, etc.  The first of these regions has a very high quality of life, while the latter two are recommended for lower cost of housing and safe, nice, neighborhoods.  Bear in mind that within all these communities, the density of living will far exceed Southern Illinois, where a "small town" in California typically is 10,000 or less, while a "small town" in the midwest is more like 1,000 or less citizens.