Davis, California

What is it like to live in Davis, CA?

Davis is a quiet town for the most part. The most bustling part, as you’d expect, is the area surrounding the UC Davis campus. The apartments and houses that are within a 10 minute bike ride of the campus are usually populated by students. Weather can be on the extreme side since it’s in the valley.

I love it here because this is the type of town that I want to be in. People complain mostly about it being too quiet or having nothing to do, but I have none of these complaints. There’s always good food to choose from, and there’s a spate of new breweries to hang out at as well. If you want Thai food, there’s about 10 different places to choose from.

Picnic Day is the outlier day in Davis, given that the population in the town doubles or triples thanks to people coming in. As a resident of Davis for the past 7 years, I can comfortably say the town sucks on Picnic Day and I make it a point to avoid downtown or areas near the school.

Unfortunately, I leave this place in a few months, but it has been nothing but good to me.

What is it like to live in Davis, CA?

The City of Davis has a variety of areas (North, South, East, West and Central), each with a different feel and in most cases there’s little areas within those areas that are also unique. It’s a pretty special town.

The University and surrounding areas generally cater to the UCD population. Almost adjacent to the UCD campus is Downtown Davis which is a vibrant and active downtown with countless businesses, restaurants, cafes, and some residences. There’s even an Amtrak station which can get you easily into the bay area; so, many residents work in the bay area, but live in Davis.

Davis public schools generally are rated pretty highly rated. There are lots of parks, three have community pools. Several areas around town have greenbelts that interwind through neighborhoods and connect parks and people. Some days it feels like there are more bikes than cars and if your from out of town, you may find driving in Davis a little crazy. Pedestrians in town will frequently just step off the sidewalk without looking; so you have to pay attention.

The only bad part? the cost of housing. I’m a real estate agent in town and finding a decent home for less than $500,000 is going to mean you’re in a condo or halfplex. Even at a $600,000 budget it can be challenging to find a home, which is pretty discouraging for a lot of young families who grew up in town but can't afford to buy here.

All-in-all it’s an amazing town. I live in North Davis and am lucky enough to enjoy walking, or biking the North Davis Greenbelt with my kids and dogs. I’m walking distance to a Peets Coffee, Noahs Bagels, Jamba Juice, Dos Coyotes Groceries and more. Many events, like the Fourth of July Fireworks, are held at Community park which is also walkable for me. I feel pretty lucky to live and do business here.

What is it like to live near the University of California Davis, CA?

Davis is a nice town. It’s mostly upscale, politically liberal, quirky, and has sort of a ‘the hippies are alive and well’ vibe. I realize that’s a bad way to phrase it, but I can’t think of a better way to describe the impression Davis gives. Bicycles and bike paths are everywhere. Coffee houses, food co-ops and farmers markets are easier to find than chain fast-food restaurants.

Like most places in California, Davis enjoys pleasant weather year-round. Summers are hot and sunny. On winter days, you might need a light jacket. The rainy season is from December through February. (‘Rainy season’ is somewhat of a misnomer. It usually means a few weeks of heavy drizzle.)

What is it like to live in Davis, CA?

The City of Davis has a variety of areas (North, South, East, West and Central), each with a different feel and in most cases there’s little areas within those areas that are also unique. It’s a pretty special town.

The University and surrounding areas generally cater to the UCD population. Almost adjacent to the UCD campus is Downtown Davis which is a vibrant and active downtown with countless businesses, restaurants, cafes, and some residences. There’s even an Amtrak station which can get you easily into the bay area; so, many residents work in the bay area, but live in Davis.

Davis public schools generally are rated pretty highly rated. There are lots of parks, three have community pools. Several areas around town have greenbelts that interwind through neighborhoods and connect parks and people. Some days it feels like there are more bikes than cars and if your from out of town, you may find driving in Davis a little crazy. Pedestrians in town will frequently just step off the sidewalk without looking; so you have to pay attention.

The only bad part? the cost of housing. I’m a real estate agent in town and finding a decent home for less than $500,000 is going to mean you’re in a condo or halfplex. Even at a $600,000 budget it can be challenging to find a home, which is pretty discouraging for a lot of young families who grew up in town but can't afford to buy here.

All-in-all it’s an amazing town. I live in North Davis and am lucky enough to enjoy walking, or biking the North Davis Greenbelt with my kids and dogs. I’m walking distance to a Peets Coffee, Noahs Bagels, Jamba Juice, Dos Coyotes Groceries and more. Many events, like the Fourth of July Fireworks, are held at Community park which is also walkable for me. I feel pretty lucky to live and do business here.

Pros & Cons of Living in Davis California