Lodi
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Great for
- Clean & Green
- Internet Access
- Medical Facilities
- Shopping Options
- Schools
Not great for
- Resale or Rental Value
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Professionals
- Singles
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Reviews
Lodi
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Solidly Middle of the Road"
I had never been to Lodi before this weekend. Frankly, I knew there was a place called Lodi and that it was in NorCal but before this weekend if you had asked me to point it out on a map I would not have been able to.
So here is what I found out about it and my general though limited impression. Lodi is a relatively small city with less than a 100,000. I guess Blue Shield is the major private employer here. (That’s who my BF’s friend works for.)
It is an older middle class looking sort of place, with lots of Ranch style homes along flat grid-like streets. The homes here were mostly of the older 50’s variety in the neighborhood we were visiting. We drove around though afterwards and I did notice that there were some really nice looking newer neighborhoods on the southern end of Lodi with nice newer, Contemporary style homes from the 80’s and 90’s. (A little cookie cutter, but still pretty nice.)
At the bbq, I overheard someone saying that there was a big difference between east and west Lodi, and that one was nice and the other one pretty bad, but I didn’t notice that. (Seemed more like a north-south divide to me actually.)
Lodi also has a pretty cute, very authentic downtown. Sort of like the place from “What a Wonderful Life” but paved of course. And Lodi is also the hometown of Robert Mondavi.
I also did a little research on some other figures:
In terms of crime Lodi is about average compared to the national average. It gets about 1-2 murders per year.
The average home here sells for around $200K--though in can rise to twice that in the really nice spots.
I guess where you really see the class divide in Lodi is in the schools. Schools on the east side of town like Liberty High and Washington Elementary get really bad ratings, while schools like Lodi High and Larson Elementary are on the opposite end of the spectrum.
As far as commuting goes, you can only really manage Sacramento and Stockton from here.
So I guess overall I would say that Lodi is an okay place to raise a family if you have a job there--but I am not sure if I would chose it for myself otherwise.
So here is what I found out about it and my general though limited impression. Lodi is a relatively small city with less than a 100,000. I guess Blue Shield is the major private employer here. (That’s who my BF’s friend works for.)
It is an older middle class looking sort of place, with lots of Ranch style homes along flat grid-like streets. The homes here were mostly of the older 50’s variety in the neighborhood we were visiting. We drove around though afterwards and I did notice that there were some really nice looking newer neighborhoods on the southern end of Lodi with nice newer, Contemporary style homes from the 80’s and 90’s. (A little cookie cutter, but still pretty nice.)
At the bbq, I overheard someone saying that there was a big difference between east and west Lodi, and that one was nice and the other one pretty bad, but I didn’t notice that. (Seemed more like a north-south divide to me actually.)
Lodi also has a pretty cute, very authentic downtown. Sort of like the place from “What a Wonderful Life” but paved of course. And Lodi is also the hometown of Robert Mondavi.
I also did a little research on some other figures:
In terms of crime Lodi is about average compared to the national average. It gets about 1-2 murders per year.
The average home here sells for around $200K--though in can rise to twice that in the really nice spots.
I guess where you really see the class divide in Lodi is in the schools. Schools on the east side of town like Liberty High and Washington Elementary get really bad ratings, while schools like Lodi High and Larson Elementary are on the opposite end of the spectrum.
As far as commuting goes, you can only really manage Sacramento and Stockton from here.
So I guess overall I would say that Lodi is an okay place to raise a family if you have a job there--but I am not sure if I would chose it for myself otherwise.
Pros
- Small Town Feel
- Nice Main Street
- Affordable
Cons
- Bad East Side Schools
- Some Crime
- Too Far for Non-Sacramento Commutes
Recommended for
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Lodi
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Not Stuck in Lodi... here by choice!"
When I tell anyone I live in Lodi, CA., they usually start singing "Oh, Lord, Stuck In Lodi Again". Yeah, real funny. Yeah, you are the first one who ever sang that... blah, blah, blah. Truth is, most everyone is NOT stuck here, they are here by choice. Some of us even went away after high school and came back 30 years later. No kidding!
So, if the small town atmosphere, the clean streets, the ease of getting from one side of town to another, and little traffic are not enough, let's consider that Lodi may someday be the new Napa Valley. Yeah, I don't have to drive but about 5 miles to get to my first winery from my front door step. Or, I could drive about 1 mile downtown to do wine tasting on School Street. Then, you have the Lodi Grape and Wine Festival in September. (Wish they kept the Sunday parade going) Thursday night Farmers Market in Downtown, concerts at Hutchins Street Square (my old high school, go Flames!)
Have you seen the inside of the new Lodi Hospital wing and ER?? Hopefully, you were just visiting, but WOW! First class!
If we only had a Trader Joe's.... well, someday.
So, if the small town atmosphere, the clean streets, the ease of getting from one side of town to another, and little traffic are not enough, let's consider that Lodi may someday be the new Napa Valley. Yeah, I don't have to drive but about 5 miles to get to my first winery from my front door step. Or, I could drive about 1 mile downtown to do wine tasting on School Street. Then, you have the Lodi Grape and Wine Festival in September. (Wish they kept the Sunday parade going) Thursday night Farmers Market in Downtown, concerts at Hutchins Street Square (my old high school, go Flames!)
Have you seen the inside of the new Lodi Hospital wing and ER?? Hopefully, you were just visiting, but WOW! First class!
If we only had a Trader Joe's.... well, someday.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
