Farmers set up shop near Salinas for a reason. An urban island enclosed by the acres and acres of farmland around it, Salinas residents enjoy the temperate Northern California weather year round. Not only that, but the city is far enough from metropolises like San Francisco (2.5 hours) and beach towns like Monterey (30 minutes) to be something that most of California is not: quiet. Salinas is a rare mixture of temperate and tranquil.


Cali weather without Cali crowds

The Best Thing About Salinas?

Other than the temperate weather and natural beauty, expensive housing is another California trademark present in Salinas. Housing costs in Salinas, while cheaper than neighbors, are well above national averages, so you’ll have to pay to play just like everywhere else in the state. Despite this, Salinas residents often complain that there’s not much to do in the city itself. Drives to Monterey are common for those looking to get out of the house. Speaking of getting out of the house, residents also complain that it isn’t always safe, another knock on the beautiful city.


Cali prices without Cali amenities

The Worst Thing About Salinas

One thing that residents of Salinas certainly appreciate is the art world. Music lovers can find a home at the [**Fox Theater**](https://www.foxtheatersalinas.com/). Visual arts lovers find a home every month at the First Fridays Art Walk. Those appreciating the beauty of the natural world will find a home in Salinas as well. A plethora of trails, the beaches within a thirty minute drive, and the nearby [**Monterey Zoo**](https://montereyzoo.org/) and [**Monterey Bay Aquarium**](https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/) offer outlets to the natural beauty of our planet that few other cities can provide. Outside of those things, there’s not much locally for Salinas residents to do, and most of those options even require drives outside the borders of Salinas.


Lifestyle of Salinas

The schools in Salinas have fared poorly at the elementary level on standardized tests as evidenced by the score of [**C on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/salinas-city-elementary-school-district-ca/). Teachers in the district get a higher grade though and the fact nearly 40% of the student population is first generation and working through the english-language barriers of standardized tests drives underperformance at the elementary level. There is marked improvement in student and school performance at the high school level as shown in the [B rating on niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/salinas-union-high-school-district-ca/) for the schools in the area. Basically, given time, the schools and the students catch up and perform well. 

On the Rise

Schools in Salinas

If you’re involved with the agriculture industry or have a job that is flexible enough to allow to move out of the big Bay Area or LA slog, you can enjoy Northern California with a move to Salinas, and pay a lot less. 


NorCal Value

Why You Should Move Here Now?

River Rd/Parker Rd is an upscale rural neighborhood with a median home price of $1.15m and avg rent for a home of $5.2k+ The blocks are beautiful and tree-lined and the homes are on large lots and are mostly 3+ bedrooms. Most of the children attend either [**Boronda Meadows Elementary School**](https://www.salinascityesd.org/boronda-meadows) or [**Spreckels Elementary School**](https://www.spreckelsdistrict.org/Our-Schools/Spreckels-Elementary/index.html), [**El Sausal Middle School]**(https://www.salinasuhsd.org/Domain/12), and [**Salinas High School**](https://www.salinasuhsd.org/Domain/16).


Families

River Rd / Parker Rd

The San Benancio Rd / Harper Canyon Rd neighborhood is another upscale area with beautiful homes along streets filled with evergreen trees. The more densely laid out homes sell for an avg median $1 million or rent for an avg $4900. Homes are typically 3+ bedrooms and highly valued for the strong community feel throughout the neighborhood. 
One of the great prizes of the neighborhood is [**Toro County Park**](https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/public-works-facilities-parks/county-parks/list-of-county-parks/toro-park). It's smack dab in the middle of the area and has riding trails, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and baseball diamonds and acts as a hub for the local community. 


San Benancio Rd / Harper Canyon Rd

The E Boronda Rd / Constitution Blvd neighborhood offers lower-priced housing options. It's home to many students who attend colleges in nearby downtown, including Hartnell College and California State University, Monterey Bay.
The median home price is $755,000 and avg rent $2,840. Unlike many neighborhoods in Salinas, this area has many apartment rental options, for either students, or young professionals looking for cheaper options than Monterey. [**Harden Ranch**](https://www.udr.com/salinas-apartments/north-salinas/pointe-at-harden-ranch/) and [**Boronda Manor**](https://www.udr.com/salinas-apartments/santa-rita/boronda-manor/) are two popular options. 

Locals appreciate the short walk to major shopping/restaurant options as well as the fact several parks are within walking distance including [**Santa Rita**](https://www.gotparks.com/?type=all&s=CA&f=1873360&fbclid=IwAR1cnrqsGflx59mYCLMX2YoVjIiIcAxB3EXOB3m8O-n6hvlcS8DkPQWuRSE) and Soto Square Playground. Ideal for young families looking to keep the kiddos active outdoors. 


Families/DINKs/SINKs

E Boronda Rd / Constitution Blvd

Salinas

**What Is It Like Living in the Salinas Valley**

As a Greenfield native who went away to school in LA and could not be happier to be back, I may be a little biased, but I love it!

There’s a lot of negative stereotypes associated with this area in regards to violence and what not in comparison to the Monterey/PG area. But I can genuinely say I probably feel safer here than anywhere else and crime isn’t as big of an issue as it might’ve been 10+ years ago. The majority of the population is really just hard working immigrants trying to put food on their family’s plates. The small town, close knit community truly is a feeling like no other. The adjustment coming from a bigger city like Capitola may be a bit difficult at first due to the distance from the actual towns to the bigger city (Salinas) but it’s something that grows on you. Now that I’m back home, I appreciate the local small businesses and activities we have here in comparison to the big box stores, business, etc. It’s a calm and comfortable life :)

**Is Salinas that bad?**

It's gotten better, and it's suffered a lot from being the worst place in a comparably affluent region. It's an ag town, which had a really bad Nortenos/Surenos problem in the 1990s. It's quieted down a lot since then. I think there may also be a certain amount of Anglo prejudice against Latinx people- Salinas is (slight majority) Latinx, and it was one of the first cities/towns in the region where Latinx politicians overtook the old Anglo Old Boys' Club. There are bad neighborhoods, and good neighborhoods. I'd say it's safe than West Oakland, Stockton, or Manteca.

The downtown core region is safe (Maya was my go-to movie spot, along with the Osio), though there are panhandlers. And if you get out to the outskirts, it's safe.

Overall, I'd say practice keeping your doors locked, have reasonable security practices, but it's not really worse than Santa Cruz (in fact, maybe even slightly better- Salinas is more cholos, Santa Cruz is more truly insane people).

**Showing Homes in Salinas California - VLOG #015**

**Job Offer in Salinas**

Hey there, my family moved to Salinas in 1989 from the Bay area. I've lived here since, with a few departures for career or military service. I've found most people that have never lived in Salinas have a negative viewpoint of it that isn't necessarily deserved. There is a significant homeless problem, however, the homeless are not the problem. You're not going to be harassed or robbed. It's the city's handling of the problem that is at issue.

Also, high profile gang issues from the late 80's through the 90's have also given Salinas a moniker of being violent. Although this was true in the 80's and 90's it is less so now. Sometime in 2017 to now, murders were at about 30 per year and have dropped to about 5 per year. More importantly, they are all usually gang related, meaning this aren't instances of random violence.

There are no specific areas that "should be avoided" however, I don't recommend being in the China Town area or on North Main Street on foot at night. That can get hairy. Some people will tell you to avoid the East Side entirely. I would tell you, if you do, you're missing out. People only say that because that is an area where people are majorily Mexican and where most low income housing is. Neither of which are the fault of the people there. If anything, most people would be more scared of you and wary of you.

All that being said, Salinas is not a hot bed for entertainment, culture, or really much else. This is just my opinion but it is a functional city that was made as an access point for the the agriculture in the valley. But I don't know how much you care about all that. It is 45 minutes south of San Jose so any of that stuff can be reached there. Frankly, I'm the kind of person who doesn't really care where they live. If I work somewhere and I live somewhere it doesn't make a difference. One place is the same as any other.

I'm sure this was not helpful at all sorry. I was just trying to give a somewhat impartial assessment of what Salinas is.

Salinas, California

Salad Bowl of the World

Looklyloo Score: 79

We're on it!