Fresno has a great, near central location in California, about 200 miles north of Los Angeles, and around 170 miles south of Sacramento, set in the San Joaquin Valley, but is location the only thing going for Fresno? Well, no, there’s great weather and the area is rich in agriculture, but overall, is Fresno a good place to live? Let’s find out…
Safety in Fresno
Fresno isn’t the safest city to live in, let’s be honest. It is safer than only 7 percent of the cities in the country so there aren’t too many places with more crime than Fresno, so what’s the problem? The overall crime index is 93 percent higher than the California average, and while violent crime is high it’s the property crime index that really increases Fresno’s averages – the property crime index is 96 percent higher the California average. If you’re considering living in Fresno and you want to live in a safer neighborhood try Woodward Park.
Employment and the Economy in Fresno
Fresno is the economic hub for the Joaquin Valley so the economy should be strong, though the truth is there’s a high level of unemployment here. 16.2 percent of the people are unemployed compared to 11.1 percent average in California, and the nationwide 8.3 percent level. Many of the communities around Fresno rely on agriculture, while here in Fresno the economy is a little more diversified with medical centers employing the largest number of people, and the City of Fresno employing a substantial number too. With higher unemployment rates comes a higher incidence of poverty and Fresno is no exception – over 26 percent are considered to be living in poverty, compared to only 12.3 percent in the nation as a whole.
Cost of Living in Fresno
Fresno has the same problem as most of California does – the cost of living is above the national average here. However, the good news is that, compared to the rest of California, the cost of living in Fresno is actually on the low side, while all but utilities coming in below the state average. Overall Fresno’s cost of living is 15.5 percent less than the California average, but 10.8 percent greater than the national average.
Schools and Education in Fresno
There are four different public school districts covering the Fresno region and in total there are 153 public schools, 26 private schools, and 19 post-secondary schools. Fresno City College is a popular post-secondary choice, and there are several career colleges as well as a number of private and public universities: California State University, Fresno being one of them. Overall, graduation levels in Fresno are better than the national average, but they fall substantially lower than the California average. 69 percent of students complete high school in Fresno, compared to 88.5 percent statewide.
Air Quality in Fresno
While Fresno is in an area that’s predominantly agricultural it does suffer from poor air quality. This is likely because the city lies in a valley and so car fumes and other pollutants get trapped by the valley walls. Fresno’s air quality index is 38.7 percent more than the California average and 81 percent greater than the national average. Fifteen days in a year have unhealthy air quality, while 56 days are poor. 130 days in a year have moderate air quality, and only 80 are considered to be good.
Compared to the rest of California Fresno does have a lower cost of living, so it’s an affordable place to live, however, for cheaper living you do end up paying in other ways. Crime levels are high, unemployment levels are high, graduation rates are below the state average, and the air quality is quite poor.
