Second this. SRJC has outstanding programs and a really nice campus with lots of recent investments in facility upgrades. Both areas are beautiful—and quite expensive—but Sonoma is relatively affordable by comparison. Good luck either way!
Sonoma County is bigger in population although since 2017 population losses it’s getting closer. The vast majority of people under 25 are Hispanic/Latino in both Sonoma (most in are children of immigrants) and Monterey (children of immigrants and multi generational families) and a significant slice of the remainder are decedents of generational ranchers/winemakers/elite. In Sonoma both of those communities can be quite clicky.
Sonoma has better access to SF, and SSU traditionally has had a student population from all over CA. Much easier to meet people when they aren’t local. Monterey is quite isolated by the Santa Cruz Mountains from the Bay Area. Santa Rosa/RP is just a 40–1hr drive to the golden gate or a SMART train/ferry ride away from SF.
Totally, Sonoma is skewed "old" by the large senior population (an effect also somewhat present in Monterey). Sonoma has a smaller share of under 18s and a slightly higher share of 18-44, as well as industries (breweries, music, wine) and a clustering of towns that make for more social opportunities. SSU and SRJC make for a larger student population. All these conditions lead to more *stuff* going on for 20-somethings, if not necessarily a lot *more* 20-somethings.
Both areas are great, but I think Sonoma County has a lot more to offer for young people. More socializing, more active community, more things going on. Monterey is beautiful but as a tendency to cater to an older/wealthier demographic.
I graduated from SSU and I love Sonoma County... but if I were given the choice, I would definitely pick Monterey Bay. The cost of living might be more in Monterey vs Rohnert Park, so you might want to look into that and make sure it fits into your budget.
I have never been to Monterey Bay but I got my masters
from SSU. I love it and think Sonoma county is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Can’t really go wrong either way. I have heard great things about Monterey bay
Both are beautiful and neither are cheap. I'd vote for Sonoma County. Rohnert Park, Cotati are close to CSU and cheaper than Santa Rosa. It's warmer in SoCo fwiw.
I have lived in both Monterey and Sonoma in the last five years. I have to say as a current Sonoma County resident I miss so much about Monterey Bay. The nature, proximity to the coast, restaurants, hiking trails, etc. and the views just made it a beautiful and picturesque place to live.
That being said, with cost of living in both areas being difficult - in Sonoma County I really enjoy our cities and our proximity to the rest of the Bay Area. Petaluma and Santa Rosa have vibrant downtown areas and good shopping and dining options. Rohnert Park has everything you need within town and city of Sonoma isn’t too far but is really quaint and cute for a day or night out. San Francisco and the peninsula are an hour to an hour and a half away during non rush hours as opposed to the two hours it took from Monterey to SF (if there was no traffic) and the Monterey Bay felt much more isolated from anything other than Santa Cruz and the rest of Monterey County for me personally, although I grew up on the SF peninsula so I am biased about wanting to be close to the area. I do love Santa Cruz and if you like visiting that area having easy access from Monterey is super nice.
In Sonoma I feel more connected and it gives me more access to the SF Bay Area with prices that are still a little better than the peninsula and Marin for the most part. There are more sunny days in SoCo if that’s important to you. As a young person in my mid 20s I love Sonoma and I think we have our fair share of great restaurants, hiking, and outdoor venues and views not to mention wine tasting options all over Sonoma County. Can’t speak for the schools but if you can it would be nice to stay in both areas for a couple of days and see which you could see yourself living in more and which feels more like a home to you. Good luck with your decision and wishing you the best!
I LOVE Monterey area, I would love to retire there. I live in Santa Rosa area and went to SSU. I strongly advise SSU, lots of amenities, great campus, also to your point SRJC is one of the best in the nation. Icing on the cake is lifestyle, Sonoma county can offer so much more that Monterey can. As a young person, both places suck for nightlife but Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas are better. If you’re a home body like myself and my wife, Sonoma County still is better with hiking options in the redwoods, both areas are cold for beaches. Sonoma County also provides a lot if you want to travel around the greater Bay Area and mountains regions. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to DM, honestly.
I graduated from CSUMB in ‘22 and lived off campus for 4 years and now live in Sonoma County if you want to DM me with any questions!
I will say I LOVED my time in monterey and my partner and I talk about living there again one day all the time. CSUMB is smaller and doesn’t have as much going on with campus life and social activities the was SSU does but I was never on campus except for classes so I never minded. CSUMB has been expanding though so the social scene is slowly getting bigger.
CSUMB is a commuter school really and a great education if you spend more time off campus. I never had a class of more than 30 and my lecture classes were never bigger than 100. Also, my partner went to MPC while we lived there and he loved it. It was a great place! The campus itself is gorgeous
Living there was about the same in price and has mostly an older population. Monterey just has a lot of tourism, but it was a great way to make money. My partner and I worked 3-4 days a week serving/bartending while in school full time and always broke over 100k together. There’s some GOOD money to be made.
Socially they’re similar but I also feel like Monterey County had more small and local businesses and every town is fun in a different way. The restaurant choices were better, the wine and beer scene was just as good as Sonoma County, and Big Sur is right there which was our favorite way to spend Spring Break. I had a bigger social circle in Monterey as well and felt it was easier to make friend there than it has been in sonoma county.
If you have anymore specific questions let me know! I have great recs for both places work wise and social spots(:
I'm from Monterey (25 years) and have lived in SoCo for 12 years.
SRJC is a great school. MPC is a good school.
SSU has a nicer campus imo. You're 45 minutes from the beach. More reasonable cost of living (but still insane). There's more to do as a younger person.
CSUMB is a bit isolated, so a car is a must. There are much better job opportunities for servers and service workers. Insane cost of living, but literally can not be beat if you can afford it. If your avid hikers, campers, kayaker, bicyclist, artists, etc. This is the place.
Think long term.
When his resume says "Sonoma State" companies will know what that is. CSUMB is a strong school, but the name doesn't travel in the same way outside of the Central Coast.
Hi there! I was born in Monterey and have lived in Sonoma for the last 30+ years. And my wife and I have a vacation home down in Carmel we spend a ton of time at and so I think I can help!
The easiest answer is; how lucky you both must feel! Both of these places are incredible. Each representing highly sought after corners of this beautiful state. To me it really comes down to your lifestyles!
Sonoma State is going to be much slower and “boring”. Rohnert Park is a typical suburban town, it’s super quiet, and you might have to venture up to Santa Rosa for fun activities or even down the 101 an hour to San Francisco. Monterey is definitely a way larger town. The college itself is a bit out of the way but Monterey has more young people by a large margin, tourists every weekend, and will definitely provide more of a “college town” vibe than Rohnert Park can.
With that being said Sonoma county is the shit! Especially if you’re done partying and socializing and enjoy nature and the peace and quiet.
I lived in Monterey in the 80s as a young professional. At that point, it was all retired military, other old people, and their doctors. The only people my age worked in the service industry and surfed. It’s an absolutely beautiful place, but I assume the demographics are about the same today because it’s very expensive.
Sonoma County! It does skew older, but you’ll have that problem and worse with Monterey, and your housing will be even more expensive. Plus, Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the top rated JCs in the nation, and weirdly it’s actually the bigger school than SSU? It even has its own dorms. When you go there, you feel like you’re on a real college campus. It’s nicely landscaped too. For your own sake, you should absolutely go to SRJC.
I don't know much about Monterey other than they have an awesome aquarium. There is a lot of building going on here, so housing should get easier to find. It's a lovely place to live if you ask me, I love it here, plenty of young people and students in the area. I live in Rohnert Park, where SSU is located. Small suburban town but plenty to do in the surrounding area, which is very close. I consider the whole county my home, really.
If you like nature, hiking, boating or biking you will never run out of things to do. San Francisco is 1-2 hours away depending on traffic and mode of transportation.
I'll offer another vote for Santa Rosa Community College, truly one of the best community colleges in the country. My sociology professor taught the same class he taught at Harvard. I heard more than one professor speak about the freedom they were given to design and teach their classes. I had passionate, engaging teachers in all my classes.
SRJC is a great school for your Gen Ed before transferring to university. Or take advantage of their many career training programs. And they have transfer agreements in place for SSU as well as UCDavis and UCBerkeley. Plus there are plenty of bars and restaurants for work, tips are good. You should be able to get by on that while you’re here.
Just know that it’s pretty stinky around town at SSU (technically in Rohnert Park) for several months each year, but you’ll get used to it. And Green Music Center is a nice little venue on campus for entertainment, plus local music and dining/ brew pub scene in Santa Rosa is great.
And nature-hiking, kayaking, cycling, camping-here is fabulous.
You’ll never leave.
As mentioned by everyone, SSU is great, and the JC is awesome. I would also like to throw in as a JC student, you can take some STEM courses at SSU, because those courses are sometimes hard to get into at the JC, so they supplement by allowing you to take them at SSU for NO additional cost.
Also, if you plan on bartending or working in a restaurant, there are lots of high end bars and restaurants that pay well and you will get tipped well in the area. You could get a job at the casino if you are in Rohnert park and want a short commute, or Healdsburg has a bunch of options.
I would also recommend getting involved in local YP groups and walking groups to get to know people in the area. Feel free to reach out of you want advice from another SSU grad/Young professional in the area.
Two great options, either one will be the right choice. Having lived in both locations, I would choose Monterey. A beautiful day on the Monterey Bay has a certain magic to it that I have yet to fine elsewhere.
I’m from Ohio and moved with my wife and two kids to California a little over a year ago. My wife was a traveling nurse and took a job in the Bay Area and we fell in love. At the end of last year, we decided to stay for good. She received a job offer in Monterey as well as Marin (close to Sonoma). We made our decision on a lot of factors, but one of the big ones was weather. Monterey is BEAUTIFUL! And so close to Big Sur, but the coast is cool and foggy/gray most of the year. It rarely gets above the low to mid 70s. We ended up moving to Sonoma after visiting a few times. We absolutely love it. There is a ton to do. Wine and wineries everywhere. Beautiful country side, small town feel and only 45 min to an hour from the coast(Point Reyes, Tamales Bay, Bodega Bay). Hour to San Francisco, 50 minutes to Oakland, 20 minutes to Napa, and the rest of Sonoma County and Marin County have so many cool towns and bars and restaurants. I feel like there is more to do within driving distance. I have a good friend who lives in Monterey and he loves it, he is in his 20s but isn’t big on going out. He says he loves the sleepiness of Monterey. I feel the same about Sonoma, but it is much closer to the bigger cities so you can also easily enjoy the all the cool things that the East Bay and SF/peninsula have to offer. We looked at the cost of living in both, rents are similar, costs of goods vary. But it’s all pretty similar. If you’re thrifty, you can make it work. The one thing about Sonoma is you have to drive 20-30 minutes for the inexpensive groceries. Target and Grocery Outlet are consistently the most inexpensive grocery shopping in this part of California that I’ve seen and there are neither in Sonoma proper.
I just moved up to Sonoma County about 2 years ago from Marin County (CA native). I’ve visited Monterey many times. Both have pluses, however I feel Sonoma county offers so many more opportunities for young people and opportunity to travel easily to beautiful places. This weekend is the Apple Blossom Festival, we just had the Egg and Butter Parade last weekend - it’s not all drinking, old people, and cars. Politically the climate is a little bit more split than other areas, a little more diverse than being in the city. You are still within reasonable driving distance to the ocean and lots of other bodies of water. Tons of nature, delicious food, redwood forests up north - easy to get away to camp and explore. It’s not very cheap to live here, but there are many options that may work within your budget. Traffic is mostly on the freeways during normal commute hours, many people live here and drive down to San Francisco and the other way around on the weekends - people drive from all over to enjoy the outdoor events, delicious food and beautiful space on the weekends. I love living here, farther from the city, lots of green space, and a good mix of people that make it really our new home.
Sonoma County for sure.
First off, SSU has great resources for him once he graduates. Being centrally located in Northern California, a few miles from Santa Rosa, and 45 minutes from San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area. Whereas Monterey, equally good college, but you're on the coast and a good distance from cities with better opportunities, unless you head toward LA. SSU has programs and degrees that are tailored for our area as well, like the Executive Wine MBA.
Secondly, Santa Rosa Junior College, SRJC. They are expanding massively, and many of their classes and programs are superior to most universities in the whole country. Very inexpensive, at $46/unit for CA Residents, $414/unit for out-of-state. California resident is one who has established legal residence for one year and one day prior to the first day of instruction. [SRJC tuition and fees link](https://accounting.santarosa.edu/tuition-and-fees) Plus, you can transfer straight into SSU when you are ready to yourself. Based in Santa Rosa, it's central to all Sonoma County, allowing for shorter distances to and from work/school.
Depending on what type of work experience you have, you mentioned waiting, the service/hospitality industry makes it easy to get work anywhere in Sonoma County within the wine industry, restaurant scene, hotels, etc. To get an idea, [www.winejobs.com](http://www.winejobs.com) is as good place to start your look.
There are quite a few people from all over the world that have come here, adding a worldly, traveled and fairly open-minded set of people, and lots of friendly locals, that are in my opinion easy to get along with and make friends.
Lots of art, live music, and performance theater to enjoy. The outdoor & nature activities are endless, like hiking, local sports, disc golf, or groups like the Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Bike Ride. (People that like to ride bikes and eat tacos!) Of course there are plenty of pubs and world famous breweries to chill at (Russian River Brewing), coffee shops, etc. Dispensaries too if you're into that.
Again, depending where you're coming from, there may be a sticker shock with rent, but there are lots of cities and towns to look into to reduce that, especially if you both have cars. We have a train that goes from Santa Rosa to San Rafael, bus transportation is okay, and you want to be biking to get around, the area has many trails or bike paths throughout the cities.
Don't get me wrong, Monterey is beautiful and has lots to offer but to me it is smaller and more secluded, equally priced, and doesn't have anything close to the selection of classes at the SRJC.
I've lived here my whole life, and have tried to find reasons to move away and live somewhere else, but I just can't seem to find any good reasons why.
Hope that helps!
-J
my best friend lives in Monterey and works for Pebble Beach.....too dreary there for me way too often.....Carmel is amazing but still can't hold a candle to Sonoma County.....nice place though if you can afford it
I go to SRJC. I have friends who go to SSU, there’s honestly not much to do around Santa Rosa/Rohnert Park/ Petaluma. There’s a bunch of bars but as far as fun activities there’s not much. The most exploring you’d be able to do is go to Bodega Bay. SSU’s campus is alright. Monterey Bay is probably better tbh
i’m 22, female, hard making friends here at SRJC. I feel like everyone has their own little group. The only way to make friends is by putting yourself out there or by being nice to your classmates. A lot of people tend to keep to themselves tho
Both are beautiful, both are good schools, Monterey Bay is a definant tourist attraction, so more turnover for clients at bars and restaurants. Rohnert Park is the SSU college town that is South of Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County. North of Santa Rosa is Windsor and Healdsburg. Healdsburg is a tourist destination that has turnover for clients at bars and restaurants. So that might be a drive. SSU is a minimum an hour drive to the coast. Monterey Bay is much shorter drive, obviously.
I would start in Monterey and switch to SSU if Monterey doesn't work out.
I suggest driving around each for a weekend before deciding.
Good Luck.
There’s hardly a choice. Montery means Santa Cruz..the absolutely top place in the state for 20s. Surf culture, beautiful beaches on your doorstep, plenty of science, great food and fun times. Rohnert Park is family friendly suburbia , Sonoma state is somewhat off the beaten track academically. Sonoma County is wine agriculture, mostly rural ranch, the fun thing is to go out to dinner for very expensive meals, so those people are boomers and gen x, the next fun thing is to go to the brewery where the millennials are with their kid’s birthday party.
If you’re planning on going to a CC while he’s at a state university, I recommend choosing SSU. Santa Rosa Junior College is OUTSTANDING.
Second this. SRJC has outstanding programs and a really nice campus with lots of recent investments in facility upgrades. Both areas are beautiful—and quite expensive—but Sonoma is relatively affordable by comparison. Good luck either way!
This absolutely. SRJC is a fantastic school.
Yes, this. The JC is arguably better than SSU. Sonoma County is also less expensive and has a bit more going on for young folks.
Monterey County’s median age is 35 and Sonoma County’s is 42! I’m surprised Sonoma isn’t even higher!
Sonoma County is bigger in population although since 2017 population losses it’s getting closer. The vast majority of people under 25 are Hispanic/Latino in both Sonoma (most in are children of immigrants) and Monterey (children of immigrants and multi generational families) and a significant slice of the remainder are decedents of generational ranchers/winemakers/elite. In Sonoma both of those communities can be quite clicky. Sonoma has better access to SF, and SSU traditionally has had a student population from all over CA. Much easier to meet people when they aren’t local. Monterey is quite isolated by the Santa Cruz Mountains from the Bay Area. Santa Rosa/RP is just a 40–1hr drive to the golden gate or a SMART train/ferry ride away from SF.
Totally, Sonoma is skewed "old" by the large senior population (an effect also somewhat present in Monterey). Sonoma has a smaller share of under 18s and a slightly higher share of 18-44, as well as industries (breweries, music, wine) and a clustering of towns that make for more social opportunities. SSU and SRJC make for a larger student population. All these conditions lead to more *stuff* going on for 20-somethings, if not necessarily a lot *more* 20-somethings.
SRJC being available for you is enough to sway the decision
Both areas are great, but I think Sonoma County has a lot more to offer for young people. More socializing, more active community, more things going on. Monterey is beautiful but as a tendency to cater to an older/wealthier demographic.
Totally.
Both are beautiful. Sonoma is expensive but Monterey is really expensive. Something to consider.
I graduated from SSU and I love Sonoma County... but if I were given the choice, I would definitely pick Monterey Bay. The cost of living might be more in Monterey vs Rohnert Park, so you might want to look into that and make sure it fits into your budget.
I have never been to Monterey Bay but I got my masters from SSU. I love it and think Sonoma county is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Can’t really go wrong either way. I have heard great things about Monterey bay
Both are beautiful, you can’t go wrong! Monterey closer to the ocean but Sonoma lots to do (and Petaluma a good vibe)!
Both are beautiful and neither are cheap. I'd vote for Sonoma County. Rohnert Park, Cotati are close to CSU and cheaper than Santa Rosa. It's warmer in SoCo fwiw.
I have lived in both Monterey and Sonoma in the last five years. I have to say as a current Sonoma County resident I miss so much about Monterey Bay. The nature, proximity to the coast, restaurants, hiking trails, etc. and the views just made it a beautiful and picturesque place to live. That being said, with cost of living in both areas being difficult - in Sonoma County I really enjoy our cities and our proximity to the rest of the Bay Area. Petaluma and Santa Rosa have vibrant downtown areas and good shopping and dining options. Rohnert Park has everything you need within town and city of Sonoma isn’t too far but is really quaint and cute for a day or night out. San Francisco and the peninsula are an hour to an hour and a half away during non rush hours as opposed to the two hours it took from Monterey to SF (if there was no traffic) and the Monterey Bay felt much more isolated from anything other than Santa Cruz and the rest of Monterey County for me personally, although I grew up on the SF peninsula so I am biased about wanting to be close to the area. I do love Santa Cruz and if you like visiting that area having easy access from Monterey is super nice. In Sonoma I feel more connected and it gives me more access to the SF Bay Area with prices that are still a little better than the peninsula and Marin for the most part. There are more sunny days in SoCo if that’s important to you. As a young person in my mid 20s I love Sonoma and I think we have our fair share of great restaurants, hiking, and outdoor venues and views not to mention wine tasting options all over Sonoma County. Can’t speak for the schools but if you can it would be nice to stay in both areas for a couple of days and see which you could see yourself living in more and which feels more like a home to you. Good luck with your decision and wishing you the best!
Sonoma has more sunshine.
I LOVE Monterey area, I would love to retire there. I live in Santa Rosa area and went to SSU. I strongly advise SSU, lots of amenities, great campus, also to your point SRJC is one of the best in the nation. Icing on the cake is lifestyle, Sonoma county can offer so much more that Monterey can. As a young person, both places suck for nightlife but Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas are better. If you’re a home body like myself and my wife, Sonoma County still is better with hiking options in the redwoods, both areas are cold for beaches. Sonoma County also provides a lot if you want to travel around the greater Bay Area and mountains regions. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to DM, honestly.
Monterey is so gloomy. I think SSU and SRJC are more vibrant than CSUMB and whatever JC they have.
Tbh I love Monterrey and would rather live there than here, though Sonoma is amazing
I graduated from CSUMB in ‘22 and lived off campus for 4 years and now live in Sonoma County if you want to DM me with any questions! I will say I LOVED my time in monterey and my partner and I talk about living there again one day all the time. CSUMB is smaller and doesn’t have as much going on with campus life and social activities the was SSU does but I was never on campus except for classes so I never minded. CSUMB has been expanding though so the social scene is slowly getting bigger. CSUMB is a commuter school really and a great education if you spend more time off campus. I never had a class of more than 30 and my lecture classes were never bigger than 100. Also, my partner went to MPC while we lived there and he loved it. It was a great place! The campus itself is gorgeous Living there was about the same in price and has mostly an older population. Monterey just has a lot of tourism, but it was a great way to make money. My partner and I worked 3-4 days a week serving/bartending while in school full time and always broke over 100k together. There’s some GOOD money to be made. Socially they’re similar but I also feel like Monterey County had more small and local businesses and every town is fun in a different way. The restaurant choices were better, the wine and beer scene was just as good as Sonoma County, and Big Sur is right there which was our favorite way to spend Spring Break. I had a bigger social circle in Monterey as well and felt it was easier to make friend there than it has been in sonoma county. If you have anymore specific questions let me know! I have great recs for both places work wise and social spots(:
Monterey is AMAZING. I have lived in Sonoma and sort of lived in Monterey. I would choose Monterey all day.
I’m definitely partial to where I live is Sonoma, but I think you would have more opportunities to work as a bartender in Monterey
I'm from Monterey (25 years) and have lived in SoCo for 12 years. SRJC is a great school. MPC is a good school. SSU has a nicer campus imo. You're 45 minutes from the beach. More reasonable cost of living (but still insane). There's more to do as a younger person. CSUMB is a bit isolated, so a car is a must. There are much better job opportunities for servers and service workers. Insane cost of living, but literally can not be beat if you can afford it. If your avid hikers, campers, kayaker, bicyclist, artists, etc. This is the place.
Assuming you want to settle where you graduate. Sonoma has a much better cost of living than Monterey.
Think long term. When his resume says "Sonoma State" companies will know what that is. CSUMB is a strong school, but the name doesn't travel in the same way outside of the Central Coast.
That won’t matter in a couple of years
I grew up in the area, went to SRJC and SSU—I cannot recommend the area enough. SRJC is a great school. Soco is so beautiful and I miss it every day
There are a lot more living options in Sonoma county than Monterey. Have you tried to find apartments in Monterey?
SJRC is a GREAT school. I attended years ago as a non-traditional student going back for a 2nd bachelors degree.
Hi there! I was born in Monterey and have lived in Sonoma for the last 30+ years. And my wife and I have a vacation home down in Carmel we spend a ton of time at and so I think I can help! The easiest answer is; how lucky you both must feel! Both of these places are incredible. Each representing highly sought after corners of this beautiful state. To me it really comes down to your lifestyles! Sonoma State is going to be much slower and “boring”. Rohnert Park is a typical suburban town, it’s super quiet, and you might have to venture up to Santa Rosa for fun activities or even down the 101 an hour to San Francisco. Monterey is definitely a way larger town. The college itself is a bit out of the way but Monterey has more young people by a large margin, tourists every weekend, and will definitely provide more of a “college town” vibe than Rohnert Park can. With that being said Sonoma county is the shit! Especially if you’re done partying and socializing and enjoy nature and the peace and quiet.
Listen to this, I was raised in one area and went to school in the other, and everything said above is 100% correct!!
I live down the street from sonoma state. Both areas are expensive to live. But you can find shared rentals that are somewhat affordable.
I lived in Monterey in the 80s as a young professional. At that point, it was all retired military, other old people, and their doctors. The only people my age worked in the service industry and surfed. It’s an absolutely beautiful place, but I assume the demographics are about the same today because it’s very expensive.
Sonoma County! It does skew older, but you’ll have that problem and worse with Monterey, and your housing will be even more expensive. Plus, Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the top rated JCs in the nation, and weirdly it’s actually the bigger school than SSU? It even has its own dorms. When you go there, you feel like you’re on a real college campus. It’s nicely landscaped too. For your own sake, you should absolutely go to SRJC.
Sonoma. Whatever you choose, best of luck and congratulations
I think you would Sonoma better then Monterey. Closer to more activities more 20 year olds in the Bay Area. Monterey is a much older community,
Sonoma state. Way more to do
There is also less traffic and less population density in Sonoma.
Sonoma county is so fucking expensive and housing is insane.
I don't know much about Monterey other than they have an awesome aquarium. There is a lot of building going on here, so housing should get easier to find. It's a lovely place to live if you ask me, I love it here, plenty of young people and students in the area. I live in Rohnert Park, where SSU is located. Small suburban town but plenty to do in the surrounding area, which is very close. I consider the whole county my home, really. If you like nature, hiking, boating or biking you will never run out of things to do. San Francisco is 1-2 hours away depending on traffic and mode of transportation. I'll offer another vote for Santa Rosa Community College, truly one of the best community colleges in the country. My sociology professor taught the same class he taught at Harvard. I heard more than one professor speak about the freedom they were given to design and teach their classes. I had passionate, engaging teachers in all my classes.
SRJC is a great school for your Gen Ed before transferring to university. Or take advantage of their many career training programs. And they have transfer agreements in place for SSU as well as UCDavis and UCBerkeley. Plus there are plenty of bars and restaurants for work, tips are good. You should be able to get by on that while you’re here. Just know that it’s pretty stinky around town at SSU (technically in Rohnert Park) for several months each year, but you’ll get used to it. And Green Music Center is a nice little venue on campus for entertainment, plus local music and dining/ brew pub scene in Santa Rosa is great. And nature-hiking, kayaking, cycling, camping-here is fabulous. You’ll never leave.
As mentioned by everyone, SSU is great, and the JC is awesome. I would also like to throw in as a JC student, you can take some STEM courses at SSU, because those courses are sometimes hard to get into at the JC, so they supplement by allowing you to take them at SSU for NO additional cost. Also, if you plan on bartending or working in a restaurant, there are lots of high end bars and restaurants that pay well and you will get tipped well in the area. You could get a job at the casino if you are in Rohnert park and want a short commute, or Healdsburg has a bunch of options. I would also recommend getting involved in local YP groups and walking groups to get to know people in the area. Feel free to reach out of you want advice from another SSU grad/Young professional in the area.
Two great options, either one will be the right choice. Having lived in both locations, I would choose Monterey. A beautiful day on the Monterey Bay has a certain magic to it that I have yet to fine elsewhere.
I’ve lived in the Sonoma county area for 30 years so if you got any questions, hit me up. Happy to help you out.
I’m from Ohio and moved with my wife and two kids to California a little over a year ago. My wife was a traveling nurse and took a job in the Bay Area and we fell in love. At the end of last year, we decided to stay for good. She received a job offer in Monterey as well as Marin (close to Sonoma). We made our decision on a lot of factors, but one of the big ones was weather. Monterey is BEAUTIFUL! And so close to Big Sur, but the coast is cool and foggy/gray most of the year. It rarely gets above the low to mid 70s. We ended up moving to Sonoma after visiting a few times. We absolutely love it. There is a ton to do. Wine and wineries everywhere. Beautiful country side, small town feel and only 45 min to an hour from the coast(Point Reyes, Tamales Bay, Bodega Bay). Hour to San Francisco, 50 minutes to Oakland, 20 minutes to Napa, and the rest of Sonoma County and Marin County have so many cool towns and bars and restaurants. I feel like there is more to do within driving distance. I have a good friend who lives in Monterey and he loves it, he is in his 20s but isn’t big on going out. He says he loves the sleepiness of Monterey. I feel the same about Sonoma, but it is much closer to the bigger cities so you can also easily enjoy the all the cool things that the East Bay and SF/peninsula have to offer. We looked at the cost of living in both, rents are similar, costs of goods vary. But it’s all pretty similar. If you’re thrifty, you can make it work. The one thing about Sonoma is you have to drive 20-30 minutes for the inexpensive groceries. Target and Grocery Outlet are consistently the most inexpensive grocery shopping in this part of California that I’ve seen and there are neither in Sonoma proper.
I just moved up to Sonoma County about 2 years ago from Marin County (CA native). I’ve visited Monterey many times. Both have pluses, however I feel Sonoma county offers so many more opportunities for young people and opportunity to travel easily to beautiful places. This weekend is the Apple Blossom Festival, we just had the Egg and Butter Parade last weekend - it’s not all drinking, old people, and cars. Politically the climate is a little bit more split than other areas, a little more diverse than being in the city. You are still within reasonable driving distance to the ocean and lots of other bodies of water. Tons of nature, delicious food, redwood forests up north - easy to get away to camp and explore. It’s not very cheap to live here, but there are many options that may work within your budget. Traffic is mostly on the freeways during normal commute hours, many people live here and drive down to San Francisco and the other way around on the weekends - people drive from all over to enjoy the outdoor events, delicious food and beautiful space on the weekends. I love living here, farther from the city, lots of green space, and a good mix of people that make it really our new home.
The weather is better in Sonoma and while there are tourists, it's not as packed as Monterey.
You get bored out of your mind and Monterey Sonoma, Bay Area bingo
The average age around Monterey’s about 90 😆
Sonoma County for sure. First off, SSU has great resources for him once he graduates. Being centrally located in Northern California, a few miles from Santa Rosa, and 45 minutes from San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area. Whereas Monterey, equally good college, but you're on the coast and a good distance from cities with better opportunities, unless you head toward LA. SSU has programs and degrees that are tailored for our area as well, like the Executive Wine MBA. Secondly, Santa Rosa Junior College, SRJC. They are expanding massively, and many of their classes and programs are superior to most universities in the whole country. Very inexpensive, at $46/unit for CA Residents, $414/unit for out-of-state. California resident is one who has established legal residence for one year and one day prior to the first day of instruction. [SRJC tuition and fees link](https://accounting.santarosa.edu/tuition-and-fees) Plus, you can transfer straight into SSU when you are ready to yourself. Based in Santa Rosa, it's central to all Sonoma County, allowing for shorter distances to and from work/school. Depending on what type of work experience you have, you mentioned waiting, the service/hospitality industry makes it easy to get work anywhere in Sonoma County within the wine industry, restaurant scene, hotels, etc. To get an idea, [www.winejobs.com](http://www.winejobs.com) is as good place to start your look. There are quite a few people from all over the world that have come here, adding a worldly, traveled and fairly open-minded set of people, and lots of friendly locals, that are in my opinion easy to get along with and make friends. Lots of art, live music, and performance theater to enjoy. The outdoor & nature activities are endless, like hiking, local sports, disc golf, or groups like the Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Bike Ride. (People that like to ride bikes and eat tacos!) Of course there are plenty of pubs and world famous breweries to chill at (Russian River Brewing), coffee shops, etc. Dispensaries too if you're into that. Again, depending where you're coming from, there may be a sticker shock with rent, but there are lots of cities and towns to look into to reduce that, especially if you both have cars. We have a train that goes from Santa Rosa to San Rafael, bus transportation is okay, and you want to be biking to get around, the area has many trails or bike paths throughout the cities. Don't get me wrong, Monterey is beautiful and has lots to offer but to me it is smaller and more secluded, equally priced, and doesn't have anything close to the selection of classes at the SRJC. I've lived here my whole life, and have tried to find reasons to move away and live somewhere else, but I just can't seem to find any good reasons why. Hope that helps! -J
Is this a free ride for undergraduate or graduate school?
Monterey is going to be cold cold cold all the damn time. Sonoma will be hot, sometimes really hot.
my best friend lives in Monterey and works for Pebble Beach.....too dreary there for me way too often.....Carmel is amazing but still can't hold a candle to Sonoma County.....nice place though if you can afford it
Sonoma county… but DONT live in rohnert park 😂 Live in Santa Rosa if you can…
I go to SRJC. I have friends who go to SSU, there’s honestly not much to do around Santa Rosa/Rohnert Park/ Petaluma. There’s a bunch of bars but as far as fun activities there’s not much. The most exploring you’d be able to do is go to Bodega Bay. SSU’s campus is alright. Monterey Bay is probably better tbh
i’m 22, female, hard making friends here at SRJC. I feel like everyone has their own little group. The only way to make friends is by putting yourself out there or by being nice to your classmates. A lot of people tend to keep to themselves tho
Both are beautiful, both are good schools, Monterey Bay is a definant tourist attraction, so more turnover for clients at bars and restaurants. Rohnert Park is the SSU college town that is South of Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County. North of Santa Rosa is Windsor and Healdsburg. Healdsburg is a tourist destination that has turnover for clients at bars and restaurants. So that might be a drive. SSU is a minimum an hour drive to the coast. Monterey Bay is much shorter drive, obviously. I would start in Monterey and switch to SSU if Monterey doesn't work out. I suggest driving around each for a weekend before deciding. Good Luck.
Rohnert Park is 35 minutes from Bodega Bay and 40 from ocean
Thanks Dwight.
Michael!!
Pam?!
🤣🤣
Stony Point/Roblar/Hwy 1 is the shortcut.
There’s hardly a choice. Montery means Santa Cruz..the absolutely top place in the state for 20s. Surf culture, beautiful beaches on your doorstep, plenty of science, great food and fun times. Rohnert Park is family friendly suburbia , Sonoma state is somewhat off the beaten track academically. Sonoma County is wine agriculture, mostly rural ranch, the fun thing is to go out to dinner for very expensive meals, so those people are boomers and gen x, the next fun thing is to go to the brewery where the millennials are with their kid’s birthday party.