Vallejo

Vallejo has a bad reputation. There is just no getting around that. Its reputation is as being a gangland on the order of Richmond or Oakland.

Is that an exaggerated perspective? Yes. Let us start with the issue that people consider first when they are considering a place like Vallejo: crime. Vallejo does have a high crime rate. It is twice the rate of the national average, which is very high. But it is not Oakland, whose crime rate is almost 3 times the national average.

In fact, Vallejo’s crime rate is closer to San Francisco’s crime rate which is also about double the national average.

What does this kind of crime rate translate into on the ground? Vallejo has a population of about 115,000. Since about 2010, Vallejo has had about a dozen murders every year, with the peak being 17 in 2010. That basically means one murder for every 10,000 residents. Oakland has around 400,000 residents nearly 4 times that of Vallejo. How many murders do they get in an average year? About 100 per year. So in Oakland, it is closer to 1 in 4000 residents get murdered every year. Neither is number to be too happy with, but Oakland’s is far more depressing. Just think about what that means over the course of 10 years: 1 in 400 residents?

I know that there are other factors that increase you chances--especially being in a gang. But still.

I should also add, that most crime happens west of I-80 in the older part of Vallejo and not in the newer communities on the east of I-80.

The other big problem is the schools. They are basically subpar across the board. This is reflected in the API test scores for these schools which rate these schools at 3’s, 4’s and the better ones at 5. Vallejo High is a 4. Again, this is nowhere near the problems of Oakland’s school system, but it is also nothing to write home about.

Now, the big draw of Vallejo, are the very affordable homes. Many people are willing to live up in the newer communities on the eastern end of Vallejo so that they can get beautiful new homes at cut rate prices. If you don’t have kids this may even be a place you might consider. (Even with kids, perhaps you can get your kids into Benicia schools.)

The other problem then becomes the commute. In an hour during the rush, you can get as far as North Oakland (not really across the Bay Bridge to SF) or as far as Alamo, the edge of Antioch or as far as Dixon to the northeast. Okay, but kind of a limited area in terms of job prospects. (And don’t forget the toll bridges.)

So, given what I have said so far, except with maybe the exception of the eastern hills I couldn’t really see recommending Vallejo, except maybe for going to Sea World or Six Flags which I think are both here.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The city also went bankrupt back in 2008, which by all accounts that have still not recovered from.

Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County with a population of over 115,000 people. It’s saturated with a varied degree of middle-class neighborhoods while the racial makeup is split evenly between African American, white, hispanic and asian residents. The city is located on the northern shore of San Pablo Bay, giving locals a great waterfront aesthetic, but its high crime rate makes locals a bit uneasy about living within its quarters. Yet it doesn’t stop there. In 2008, Vallejo became the largest California city to ever file for bankruptcy. Thus far, it’s not much to be proud of.

Like many metropolises in the Bay Area, Vallejo has a handful of neighborhood shopping centers sprinkled throughout the city. The most popular of which is Gateway Plaza. The commercial area includes a myriad of chain restaurants (i.e. Chevy’s, Olive Garden), department/electronic stores (Best Buy, Target, Costco) and a plethora of smaller boutiques. The city’s sister commercial districts are considered to be Redwood Plaza and Redwood Center Shopping Center, about a mile south of the main shopping hub. Moreover, the Solano County Fairgrounds is located just off Interstate 80. The multi-purpose venue showcases a wide variety of entertainment including educational, cultural, commercial and recreational programs to the residents of Solano County. For family fun, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom lies adjacent to the fairgrounds and next to the Interstate 80 and Highway 37 Junction. Its popularity lies in the fact that its an animal themed amusement park with a variety of roller coasters and rides for all ages. However, many attendees complain that its merchandise and ticket are overpriced.

Considering Vallejo is the largest metropolitan area in the Bay Area, it would be wise for residents to live within close proximity of one of the two hospitals in the community: Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Solano Medical Center. In fact, Kaiser Permanente is the largest employer of Vallejo residents. For students, you’ll be interested to know that Vallejo High School will be welcoming more than 2000 new students due to the closing of Hogan High School. To which, student to teacher ratios will plummet along with its overall mediocre test scores.

Brunswick Drive is located in the sought after neighborhood development 'Somerset Highlands'. It is located in the East Vallejo hills. This is a great place to raise a family and many are. On the average the homes are 3 to 5 bedrooms with square foot living from the 1900's to 3500's positioned on large lots for privacy, play, relaxation and entertainment. Conveniently located near all: Schools, Shopping, Public Bus Transportation, Freeways, Parks, and Golf courses.