I have a potential job opportunity/promotion out in Bakersfield. I have been reading a lot of comments online about how bad Bakersfield is but they always add "right-wing zealots" as one of the reasons, so I don't know how credible their opinion is for a Texan.

Anyway, any Ags out there that can tell me about the good, bad, and the ugly of Bakersfield?

I grew up in fresno, just north of Bakersfield, but my mom was born there. It's a blue collar type town for sure. There is not that much violent crime, and most of it has to do with the drug trade. There are a LOT of Spanish only speakers, similar to the valley. In fact, if you've been McAllen or Harlingen, Bakersfield will remind you of them. The absolute worst part of the South San Joaquin is that all of the air pollution gathers there and the air quality is TERRIBLE. Add the bay area smog to all of the dust created by farming and it can get bad.

Don't pay any attention to anyone who think Bakersfield is full of "right wing zealots." Anybody who says that is a Bay Area or SoCal elitist liberal snob. They look down on us valley types. I think you'll fit in well, by and large they're good people and not totally unlike Texans. Much of the Anglo population is made up of descendants of Oklahomans and Texans who moved there during the dust bowl and Great Depression.

How about the real estate? Which neighborhood is best to live in? Just by looking at Bakersfield Mel's, seems like the homes are overpriced.

My family has been in bako for 2 years and we really like it. There are a lot of other aggies here and i wouldn't hesitate to come here.

Real Estate is very reasonable. Different, but reasonably priced. Its definitely not like living on the coast. Go to bakersfieldrealtor.com

I strongly recommend the northwest. Really anything west of Coffee Rd and north of Ming.

Air is bad, but mainly particulate (dust and dirt and pollen - dirt is is like powder). Weather is better than texas.

Good family town.

Gig'em '02

Thanks for the info, it seems like the real estate is really tough right and haven't noticed very many home builders there.

Putting up with California politics and not living on the coast makes no sense to me.

That said, I don't like Bakersfield. Probably not as bad as some people say though.

Welcome to taxafornia! You'll learn to love it.

My boss just got back from a few days in Bakersfield and described it as a sh*t-hole town.

I'm looking for a house in Bako right now and the market is crazy. Houses are either on the market for 60+ days or ~5-10 days.

M flying over there next week for house hunting so maybe I will get lucky.

I just started work out at Edwards Air Force Base a few weeks ago. I am in a hotel in Palmdale now but will probably be looking to live in/near Tehachapi. An area between there and Bakersfield I have heard alot of good things about is Bear Valley.

Anywho - I clicked on this thread expecting gamewatching info. I am trying to find a good bar anywhere from north LA to Bakersfield that will have the sound on for the game...which is going to be a tough putt with USC playing in the same time slot.