Berkeley Parents Network: Moving to Sonoma County

Berkeley Parents Network

Moving to Sonoma County

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Housing, Neighborhoods, & Moving > Moving to Sonoma County

Considering a move to Sonoma County
Moving to Santa Rosa

Considering a move to Sonoma County

July 2004

Does anyone have any experience (first hand or through friends/family) about living in Sonoma County? We live in Rockridge and are considering a move to that area for several reasons (cost of living, commute, etc) but really know nothing about it. Areas of interest are Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Sebastopol. On first glance, I would think that it might be too much of a shock to our systems to move (lack of diversity, services, restaurants??) but I really have no knowledge of the areas at all. All info appreciated.

I am originally from Sonoma County (the outskirts of Santa Rosa up in the country) and love it there! I would move back there but our work situation keeps us here. While it isn't Berkeley/Oakland (nothing is!), the area has a ton to offer. There are many, many liberals and progressives there (especially in parts of Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and other smaller communities), some great health food stores and co-op markets, restaurants of every imaginable cuisine, great parks, great schools (my mother taught school out there for 20 years and I went to school there as well), parent groups, outdoor activities, fairs, etc. It really is a wonderful community. My familiy is multi-cultural (Mexian, Italian and American) and we feel right at home when we visit. It has a laid-back feel. I could just go on about the area. If you would like to chat more about the area, feel free to email me. SR native

Okay, the first McDonalds didn't come to Sonoma County until 1976, but they have been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with the Jones since then... :-)

Seriously, if your concerns re: Sonoma county are of diversity, services & restaurants then you don't need to worry too much. I grew up in Sonoma County and even back then, before everyone figured out that it was a great place to escape from the financial pressures of the close-in Bay Area, it had a good amount of diversity (1/4 of my graduating class was from or had family from Mexico/Central or South America...I realize that is not diversity from the world over, but it is a pretty good start). Great wine and great food go together. I know that The Wine Spectator lists at least one restaurant in Sonoma County among its top ten in the Bay Area.

In many parts of Sonoma County, East-Bay politics look VERY CONSERVATIVE (Guerneville, Occidental, Monte Rio...basically, anything out toward the Russian River), so if you like Berkeley politics, then you will find many like-minded individuals. That said, there are many more republicans residing within the SonCo borders than you would find in the Berkeley.

Santa Rosa has good cultural offerings, but San Fran is only an hour away if you need the opera.

That said, while growing up there, I couldn't wait to escape. The hippy/rednecks (they are weird breed and exist within the same person if that can be believed...picture people on their front porches shooting at rabbits while smoking pot and talking about recycling) drove me nuts. Also, there is a large 'love of track homes in gated communities, hang out at the mall' population' ala East of the tunnel.

If I were to move back (which is on a short list of possibilities, even though none of my family still lives there), I would look at the Healdsburg or Sebastopol. Sebastopol is a very hip small town. Healdsburg is becoming that as well. Both towns have lots of 'in town' homes and great food/shopping.

Hope that helps. El Molino class of ;86

Moving to Santa Rosa

Feb 2004

My husband has been offered a job in Santa Rosa and we are seriously considering moving up there. I have done some internet research on home prices/schools and it does seem that there are some good public schools available (particularly in the Rincon Valley school district), but I would love to hear from anyone on this network that has personal experience living in this area. We are generally interested in knowing about quality of life and community issues. I am hoping that by moving to an area where more people send their children to the local public school we would have more of a sense of community than we currently have living in Richmond (and going to private school out of our immediate area). If anyone is either from Santa Rosa or has lived there, I would love to hear from you. Susan

I grew up in Santa Rosa and my mother, sister and nephew still live there. I would move back to SR in a second, but becuase of work, we live here. I consider SR to be an ideal community: great schools, great neighborhoods, progressively liberal people, great restaurants, fantastic weather, nice, walkable downtown, etc., etc. Most people send their kids to public schools. Housing prices are high but you get more for your money than in Oakland/Berkeley. Most public schools are very good. A few are not so good. I attended rincon valley schools and Santa Rosa high and my nephew attends elementary school in rincon valley. My mom has been teaching in the Santa Rosa public schools forever. If you would like to talk more about life in SR, feel free to email me. I love to talk about my favorite place to live and (fingers crossed), hopefully my family will live there again someday soon. SR native

Santa Rosa is a great place to grow up and a great place to go to public school (though, I am a bit biased as my Father was superintendent of schools in Santa Rosa while I was at Berkeley and before that Superintendent of the West County Schools). I graduated from the West County Schools (Oak Grove, Willowside and El Molino) and managed to get into Berekely. Depending on where your husband will be working, you may wish to consider one of the surrounding communities -- Sebastopol (which will put you into the West County Schools) or Healdsburg or Glen Ellen. All have 'small town appeal,' but thanks to the wine industry, you will find that all are reasonably sophisticated. All are easy commutes to Santa Rosa.

The down side of Santa Rosa is all of the suburban sprawl. I am not a big fan of track homes, which sadly cover much of the valley floor. The upside is that you are living in the middle of/short drive to everything (wineries, great food, redwoods, the ocean, the Russian River, etc) Enjoy!

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