California residents: please tell me about Contra Costa County

[unsavedtrash]

My SO is considering a job there. We are planning to move to California after I finish my masters but a really good job has come up right now. Is this a good area?

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. Upscale commuters, great weather, horrible traffic

Good luck finding a house under $600,000.

[unsavedtrash]

2. housing is one of the big concerns

Damn, $600,000 :wow:
We own now but it looks like we will have to rent there.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Good how? And where in the county?

Like all of the Bay Area, buying a house is pretty expensive here in Contra Costa, but there are areas that are less costly than others. As Oeditpus wrote, the weather's great and there are a significant number of upper income people especially in the area from Orinda east to Walnut Creek and everything south of there. Walnut Creek to Martinez has expensive but somewhat more affordable condo developments and lots of new construction of condos and also a good number of rentals. The eastern part of the county (Pittsburg to Oakley area)is less expensive but again, not cheap. The western part of the county includes the city of Richmond (a rough and tumble older city with a few nice neighborhoods if you're used to city living,) El Cerrito, and a cluster of newish smaller communities like Pinole and El Sobrante.

Central Contra Costa is convenient to BART if the SO would be commuting to the Oakland or San Francisco business districts and that is not a bad commute. Driving in that direction or to Silicon Valley is a major pain in the neck during the rush hours, otherwise not bad at all. Central Contra Costa has good schools, if that's a consideration. East County is a long commute to San Francisco; West County it really depends on where you're located.

[unsavedtrash]

4. job home base would be Martinez but she would be working all over the county

It is in public health and not a great paying job but it is the field she loves. I can't believe how expensive housing is there but we have been good and squirreled money away for this move. Thank you for all of the information.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. If you need more info, feel free to PM me.

I live in Central CC.

[Kickin_Donkey]

6. Suburbia ...

Great place to live if you're into that. Also, it's liberal.

The northern tier, which includes Martinez -- not so good. It's Cancer Alley what with the oil refineries.

Aside from northern Contra Costa, I wouldn't hesitate to live there.

[Pangolin]

7. Except for Mt. Diablo it's suburban wasteland.

I grew up in Concord FWIW. The place is a giant bedroom community with malls and industrial parks breaking up the boredom. Housing costs are insane. Traffic is second only to Los Angeles in scariness. Schools are ok.

As noted earlier the Richmond-Hercules corridor is plauged by refinery emissions that can peel the paint off your car. Regular Richmond refinery fires make for interesting living on the coast of the bay.

Drive to the top of Mt. Diablo. It's truly one of the most spectacular views in the world.