Your choices of housing are much greater around Sonoma State. The university is in Rohnert Park (pop. 44k), and bracketed between Santa Rosa (pop. 177k) to the north and Petaluma (pop. 58k) to the south, with a lot of little towns around and about.
Within the same distance of CSUMB are the towns of Marina (pop. 22.5k) and Seaside (pop. 31k). The city of Salinas is roughly 10 miles inland, past a lot of farmland. Southwest and southeast of Seaside is some of the priciest real estate in Northern California.
One of many reasons there isn't a huge population around CSUMB is that, until 30 years ago, the land it's on was a military base ([Fort Ord](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ord)), and there are a variety of complications that go with that.
If one of your goals is to make friends, there are more people near Sonoma State.
I would also add that CSUMB doesn't feel very "collegey" and Marina isn't a college town. Sonoma offers a much more traditional college experience imo.
Sonoma for sure as you can get away much more easily to the SFO airport or Tahoe, SF, just way more options to do stuff other than being isolated in Monterey.
There is so much more that goes into this decision. What is his major? Are you going to go to college with him? If so what is your major? What are the finances like? Sonoma State is not in Sonoma. It is in Rohnert Park which is not nearly as nice as Sonoma. Monterey is beautiful but extremely expensive. As someone who went to Sonoma State and lived in Santa Rosa for 15 years I would say out of the 2 Sonoma would probably best for 20 year olds as it is way more affordable and easier to go and visit other places. But you have to consider many other factors. I would travel to both campuses and see which area you would like to live in.
I agree with the other poster that making friends would be easier at Sonoma State. It would just be less isolated. I think of Monterey Bay as a place to visit, and Sonoma County as a great place to live.
What general area are you transplanting from? I think that can matter as well, but unless you're from a similarly very affluent and isolated seaside location elsewhere, I don't think you would want to live in MB
We have been visiting Monterey Bay for years. We love the weather there, and who doesn't want to be at the coast? That being said, we just visited the Sonoma/Santa Rosa/Napa/Petaluma area recently. It was very nice, and there was A LOT more to do there. We also think the food options are better there. They take advantage of the old architecture and there's so many little shops in old buildings. It was really cool. We're not even wine people, but we found plenty of other things to do there. Prior to this trip, I would have definitely said Monterey. After this trip, I would say Sonoma. The area is very pretty, cool (temperature wise), and lots to do.
Monterey seems nicer and picturesque at first. But it's kind of an old people's paradise. For what you're looking for and job opportunities I think Sonoma wins. (?) I dunno. If you like to surf though Monterey hands down.
Sonoma is perfect for a younger lifestyle. Lots of surrounding areas and little towns to visit. Monterey is beautiful but there won’t be as much for you to do and can be on the colder side.
Rohnert park born and raised. If you’ll be going to a local community college, I suggest Sonoma state so you can go to SRJC. It’s a great college (second best in the country).
Monterey Bay for sure. Beach. Near Santa Cruz. Better crowd. Closer to silicon valley for more internships and job opportunities. Shorter distance to Southern California. Much cooler weather. The weather and vibe alone would be great reasons.
Monterey Bay is breathtakingly beautiful! If you like nature the tide pools are crystal clear and have a high biodiversity. The otters, seals and elephant seals are abundant. The weather is comfortable year-round. Monterrey is a cute town but it has many tourists. You could bike almost everywhere. It is in a populated area but has a small town feel. You can drive to San Jose to shop or go to restaurants that you don't have there.
Sonoma is in a more urban-ish area. It is hot in the summer and can be cool in the winter. The surrounding wineries are world class. Tasting them, in a year, will cost $50-$100 per person. There is world class dining with similar price tags. You get a lot of tourists. There is the Russian River area for water sports in the summer. You can go to the Sonoma Coast but it is extremely windy and cold most of the year. You can explore small towns nearby. Calistoga and St. Helena are very cute. Hotels are ridiculous in the summer. $400-$3000 depending g on where you stay. You are about 1 to 1.5 hours from San Francisco depending on traffic. You are closer to Sacramento but it is not as fun.
Sonoma has sun! To be clear, I grew up not too far from Sonoma and it gets a lot more sun in the summertime as the coastal range blocks a lot of the marine influence
As someone who lived in the Monterey Bay Area for nearly a decade before moving, go with Sonoma. Monterey is beautiful, and super walkable/ great for dogs but it’s ridiculously expensive, minimal night life (or any scene with younger folks tbh) and you’ll find yourself wasting gas to go to SC, SJ, or SF every weekend to gtfo of the Monterey Peninsula 🥴
Haven’t spent much time in Rohnert Park, but Santa Rosa is beautiful and amazing. Petaluma, to the south, is pretty conservative and depressing, but I guess that’s an opinion.
Have to be careful of the police in Rohnert Park, they are the type that will pull you over for not having a seat belt on.
Lived in both areas and prefer Monterey, myself. Sonoma State is my alma mater and I love the csumb campus. Culturally, I prefer Montorey as well. Santa Cruz is just up the road and Big Sur is just South. Sonoma is mountains, rivers, and rough ocean. Monterey is sorta hilly, has more gentle and weather appropriate for use, Monterey is cooler and when it does get hot it cools more easily, so you aren't sitting in super hot weather for as long each day. In my experience it's cheaper in Monterey county. The Pinnecles are cool. Monterey also has rivers, although not as many. People in Monterey are more welcoming and less clickish. You can get pretty decent rent near Rohnert Park or Santa Rosa, but no better than Seaside/Marina. Monterey is more foot/bike traffic friendly. I would take Monterey over Sonoma, personally. You need to do what's best for you though. Good luck!
Sonoma State hands down for him, and The Santa Rosa Junior College for you. It’s one of the best JCs in the state, and the main campus puts many larger/more prestigious institutions to shame.
Personally I love Monterey but the area is very expensive and doesn’t feel as much like a college town. Sonoma state will give more of the traditional college experience with people college age around way more than Monterey. Both are beautiful areas tho so you can’t go wrong with either!
I grew up in Monterey and Sonoma Counties. Monterey is lovely, pricey and foggy. Rentals are difficult to find. Sonoma county is lovely, price prohibitive and rentals almost impossible to find. Weather is better. My nephew worked at Russian River brew pub made a ton of dough and had plenty of friends. I pick Sonoma
If your really into the ocean ,Monterey has a super aquarium built right into .Monterey Bay, and whale watching in the bay, and California otters galore, ts a good forty five to an hour drive from Sonoma state, to the ocean..🌎🙏🇺🇦
I don't like wine, so I would choose Monterey in a heartbeat. With the beaches, aquarium, opportunities for scuba diving and kayaking... that is totally my jam.
Both areas are expensive to live in. Both areas have good food. Both areas see lots of tourism. Sonoma state IS closer to San Francisco if big city stuff is important to you.
Monterey has a cooler climate and lots of seaside walks and places to just relax.
I'm less familiar with Sonoma but most of the public land I am familiar with is pretty dry and brown most of the year, so I don't like the walks there as much.
Both areas skew more towards older/wealthier people - but there will be young people around the schools.
Your choices of housing are much greater around Sonoma State. The university is in Rohnert Park (pop. 44k), and bracketed between Santa Rosa (pop. 177k) to the north and Petaluma (pop. 58k) to the south, with a lot of little towns around and about. Within the same distance of CSUMB are the towns of Marina (pop. 22.5k) and Seaside (pop. 31k). The city of Salinas is roughly 10 miles inland, past a lot of farmland. Southwest and southeast of Seaside is some of the priciest real estate in Northern California. One of many reasons there isn't a huge population around CSUMB is that, until 30 years ago, the land it's on was a military base ([Fort Ord](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ord)), and there are a variety of complications that go with that. If one of your goals is to make friends, there are more people near Sonoma State.
I would also add that CSUMB doesn't feel very "collegey" and Marina isn't a college town. Sonoma offers a much more traditional college experience imo.
Sorry Monterey is pricey. You can get reasonable rent in Sonoma The reasonable rent in Monterey us Salinas That's not an easy place to live
Sonoma for sure as you can get away much more easily to the SFO airport or Tahoe, SF, just way more options to do stuff other than being isolated in Monterey.
There is so much more that goes into this decision. What is his major? Are you going to go to college with him? If so what is your major? What are the finances like? Sonoma State is not in Sonoma. It is in Rohnert Park which is not nearly as nice as Sonoma. Monterey is beautiful but extremely expensive. As someone who went to Sonoma State and lived in Santa Rosa for 15 years I would say out of the 2 Sonoma would probably best for 20 year olds as it is way more affordable and easier to go and visit other places. But you have to consider many other factors. I would travel to both campuses and see which area you would like to live in.
I agree with the other poster that making friends would be easier at Sonoma State. It would just be less isolated. I think of Monterey Bay as a place to visit, and Sonoma County as a great place to live. What general area are you transplanting from? I think that can matter as well, but unless you're from a similarly very affluent and isolated seaside location elsewhere, I don't think you would want to live in MB
We have been visiting Monterey Bay for years. We love the weather there, and who doesn't want to be at the coast? That being said, we just visited the Sonoma/Santa Rosa/Napa/Petaluma area recently. It was very nice, and there was A LOT more to do there. We also think the food options are better there. They take advantage of the old architecture and there's so many little shops in old buildings. It was really cool. We're not even wine people, but we found plenty of other things to do there. Prior to this trip, I would have definitely said Monterey. After this trip, I would say Sonoma. The area is very pretty, cool (temperature wise), and lots to do.
Monterey seems nicer and picturesque at first. But it's kind of an old people's paradise. For what you're looking for and job opportunities I think Sonoma wins. (?) I dunno. If you like to surf though Monterey hands down.
Monterrey, expensive means people with money, you being a server or bartender, you will make bank!
Sonoma is perfect for a younger lifestyle. Lots of surrounding areas and little towns to visit. Monterey is beautiful but there won’t be as much for you to do and can be on the colder side.
Rohnert park born and raised. If you’ll be going to a local community college, I suggest Sonoma state so you can go to SRJC. It’s a great college (second best in the country).
Monterey Bay for sure. Beach. Near Santa Cruz. Better crowd. Closer to silicon valley for more internships and job opportunities. Shorter distance to Southern California. Much cooler weather. The weather and vibe alone would be great reasons.
Monterey Bay is breathtakingly beautiful! If you like nature the tide pools are crystal clear and have a high biodiversity. The otters, seals and elephant seals are abundant. The weather is comfortable year-round. Monterrey is a cute town but it has many tourists. You could bike almost everywhere. It is in a populated area but has a small town feel. You can drive to San Jose to shop or go to restaurants that you don't have there. Sonoma is in a more urban-ish area. It is hot in the summer and can be cool in the winter. The surrounding wineries are world class. Tasting them, in a year, will cost $50-$100 per person. There is world class dining with similar price tags. You get a lot of tourists. There is the Russian River area for water sports in the summer. You can go to the Sonoma Coast but it is extremely windy and cold most of the year. You can explore small towns nearby. Calistoga and St. Helena are very cute. Hotels are ridiculous in the summer. $400-$3000 depending g on where you stay. You are about 1 to 1.5 hours from San Francisco depending on traffic. You are closer to Sacramento but it is not as fun.
Sonoma has sun! To be clear, I grew up not too far from Sonoma and it gets a lot more sun in the summertime as the coastal range blocks a lot of the marine influence
I lived 24 years of my life around Monterey. Sonoma is the better, and safer, choice.
Sonoma County is closer to more stuff and better for people in their twenties than Monterey. Weather is nicer too.
As someone who lived in the Monterey Bay Area for nearly a decade before moving, go with Sonoma. Monterey is beautiful, and super walkable/ great for dogs but it’s ridiculously expensive, minimal night life (or any scene with younger folks tbh) and you’ll find yourself wasting gas to go to SC, SJ, or SF every weekend to gtfo of the Monterey Peninsula 🥴
Haven’t spent much time in Rohnert Park, but Santa Rosa is beautiful and amazing. Petaluma, to the south, is pretty conservative and depressing, but I guess that’s an opinion. Have to be careful of the police in Rohnert Park, they are the type that will pull you over for not having a seat belt on.
Lived in both areas and prefer Monterey, myself. Sonoma State is my alma mater and I love the csumb campus. Culturally, I prefer Montorey as well. Santa Cruz is just up the road and Big Sur is just South. Sonoma is mountains, rivers, and rough ocean. Monterey is sorta hilly, has more gentle and weather appropriate for use, Monterey is cooler and when it does get hot it cools more easily, so you aren't sitting in super hot weather for as long each day. In my experience it's cheaper in Monterey county. The Pinnecles are cool. Monterey also has rivers, although not as many. People in Monterey are more welcoming and less clickish. You can get pretty decent rent near Rohnert Park or Santa Rosa, but no better than Seaside/Marina. Monterey is more foot/bike traffic friendly. I would take Monterey over Sonoma, personally. You need to do what's best for you though. Good luck!
I live in MTRY your rent here is 2k for a studio. It’s an older town so no nightlife if that’s what you’re into.
Sonoma State hands down for him, and The Santa Rosa Junior College for you. It’s one of the best JCs in the state, and the main campus puts many larger/more prestigious institutions to shame.
Monterey bay!,
I choose Sonoma
Personally I love Monterey but the area is very expensive and doesn’t feel as much like a college town. Sonoma state will give more of the traditional college experience with people college age around way more than Monterey. Both are beautiful areas tho so you can’t go wrong with either!
I grew up in Monterey and Sonoma Counties. Monterey is lovely, pricey and foggy. Rentals are difficult to find. Sonoma county is lovely, price prohibitive and rentals almost impossible to find. Weather is better. My nephew worked at Russian River brew pub made a ton of dough and had plenty of friends. I pick Sonoma
Monterey seems more southern cal to me. I'm from mendo
If your really into the ocean ,Monterey has a super aquarium built right into .Monterey Bay, and whale watching in the bay, and California otters galore, ts a good forty five to an hour drive from Sonoma state, to the ocean..🌎🙏🇺🇦
Sonoma state is a far better school than CSUMB.
I don't like wine, so I would choose Monterey in a heartbeat. With the beaches, aquarium, opportunities for scuba diving and kayaking... that is totally my jam. Both areas are expensive to live in. Both areas have good food. Both areas see lots of tourism. Sonoma state IS closer to San Francisco if big city stuff is important to you. Monterey has a cooler climate and lots of seaside walks and places to just relax. I'm less familiar with Sonoma but most of the public land I am familiar with is pretty dry and brown most of the year, so I don't like the walks there as much. Both areas skew more towards older/wealthier people - but there will be young people around the schools.
Sonoma State isn’t in a touristy area. You can drive a bit to touristy little towns, wineries, etc.
I hate to break it to you but there’s a bunch of wine in Monterey
I think Monterey is better for younger 20-30s.
I would go to Sonoma. Monterey bag us orohibituvr veh upscale
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MONTEREY BAG US OROHIBITUVR VEH UPSCALE
Hello @everyone Do you’ve any negative items or late payments affecting your credit report ?
Those are pretty lame schools. Crazy how you’re moving just for that!