I'm sure OP is long gone since this thread is pretty old (somehow I missed it the first go around), but thought I'd weigh in since I'm the only actual current SB resident to post. There are a lot of mistruths on this thread - first of all, you can definitely find a house for around $1M, and in a good school district to boot (Goleta or the unincorporated SB area). Second, houses in Montecito do NOT start at $4M. We bought recently in SB proper, but looked at Montecito and there were several houses in the $1.5-$2M range we considered. However, the fire risk put us off, so we decided to stick with SB and ended up buying a place near the water for about $1.5M, in a good school district (for elementary at least). We may send our kids to private school eventually but wanted the option of a top notch elementary to start.

Second, having lived in all the other areas mentioned on this thread (LA, OC, SD), I can tell you that SB has both pluses and negatives compared to each. The biggest negative that I can see is the job market. Salaries tend to be much lower than LA/OC, but the COL is just as high, which makes things difficult. Diversity is also a problem (both ethnic and socioeconomic). However, traffic (which is the thing I hated most about living in LA/OC) is virtually nonexistent. My DH and my commutes are each 5 minutes, each way, which would basically be impossible in LA/OC and probably SD also. That means we get a ton of time with our family that we wouldn't otherwise have.

Also, not sure who is complaining about the hiking and beaches, but I would say both are nonpareil compared to most beaches in LA especially. Super clean and not crowded, relatively speaking.

Ultimately, I'm not sure we'll stay here forever. But I can't deny that it's an amazing place for my children to grow up - they have access to the mountains, beaches, clean, safe spaces to play in, and great schools. There's a lot to be said for that, and plus we have family nearby, so it was really a no-brainer for us. OP if you are still here I'm happy to answer questions!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Perhaps we should also take a second look at Paso Robles. I passed over it because it's so far from an airport, but it ticks off a lot of the other boxes.

Carmel is too far and too expensive. Would be nice, but not affordable for us.

Paso Robles and the surrounding wine country is spectacular. you feel like you've been transported to another time.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Perhaps we should also take a second look at Paso Robles. I passed over it because it's so far from an airport, but it ticks off a lot of the other boxes.

Carmel is too far and too expensive. Would be nice, but not affordable for us.

Also reconsider SLO. Such a great town. I really like Paso, but SLO has lots more going on.
Get a real estate agent and have them look for you.

OP here. Perhaps we should also take a second look at Paso Robles. I passed over it because it's so far from an airport, but it ticks off a lot of the other boxes.

SLO has an airport that is served by 3 major airlines.

Go Dutch in Solvang.

I’ve never heard “compromise” and Santa Barbara. It is not the sane as it was—fires, drought, and celebrities have taken their toll—but it is heaven on Earth.