What do you think of Lompoc California? (Santa Clarita, Lancaster: rental, mobile home)

[visionfor2morrow]

Greg I absolutely agree with you! Every town has it problems and as I mentioned in my earlier post, we are new to the central coast. We lived in SB first in the Goleta area near the Market Place,(NOT STUDENT HOUSING) our neighbors were loud we called the police almost every weekend. We had skunk smells everynight, we could not leave our windows open and not to mention paying alot for very little. When we moved to Lompoc we decided to rent first because of all the bad hype but our experience in this little town has been pleasant. The people are warm and friendly. The whole lompton thing is riduculous ... people who comment this clearly have never been to Compton. Living in LA before the Staple center we had to go to the Sports Arena ... Lompoc is no where near compton. Their little Christmas Parade was very reminiscent to an Old Fashion Christmas in a small town similiar to those betrayed on Lifetime.
Do I miss all the shopping I had in my backyard when I lived in Burbank and most recently Camarillo ...yes I do ... do I miss the fabulous restaurants ...yes! I knew this coming into this town that it's small and knew I would need to travel a bit to go shopping. Over all I still really like living here.
The Rock guy is crazy to have so much hate for a town... that's absurd.
This little town has a lot of potential and people need to have an open mind and make their own decision based on their experience.
In my transition from LA to the Central Coast my first stop was Ventura County.. I will say that Oxnard is horrible... the crime stats and the way people try to compare Lompoc to Compton should focus their efforts to that horrible town. They have been trying to revitalize the city for years. Their master plan communinty of Riverpark was a complete bust. People do not walk around that town at night especially in blue and grey in fear of getting shot or the very least mugged.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by visionfor2morrow

Greg I absolutely agree with you! Every town has it problems and as I mentioned in my earlier post, we are new to the central coast. We lived in SB first in the Goleta area near the Market Place,(NOT STUDENT HOUSING) our neighbors were loud we called the police almost every weekend. We had skunk smells everynight, we could not leave our windows open and not to mention paying alot for very little. When we moved to Lompoc we decided to rent first because of all the bad hype but our experience in this little town has been pleasant. The people are warm and friendly. The whole lompton thing is riduculous ... people who comment this clearly have never been to Compton. Living in LA before the Staple center we had to go to the Sports Arena ... Lompoc is no where near compton. Their little Christmas Parade was very reminiscent to an Old Fashion Christmas in a small town similiar to those betrayed on Lifetime.
Do I miss all the shopping I had in my backyard when I lived in Burbank and most recently Camarillo ...yes I do ... do I miss the fabulous restaurants ...yes! I knew this coming into this town that it's small and knew I would need to travel a bit to go shopping. Over all I still really like living here.
The Rock guy is crazy to have so much hate for a town... that's absurd.
This little town has a lot of potential and people need to have an open mind and make their own decision based on their experience.

Reading this, I kept saying to myself, "yes..., yes..., yes!" In complete agreement.

Originally Posted by visionfor2morrow

In my transition from LA to the Central Coast my first stop was Ventura County.. I will say that Oxnard is horrible... the crime stats and the way people try to compare Lompoc to Compton should focus their efforts to that horrible town. They have been trying to revitalize the city for years. Their master plan communinty of Riverpark was a complete bust. People do not walk around that town at night especially in blue and grey in fear of getting shot or the very least mugged.

However, reading THIS, you lost me completely. With all respect, it seems a bit of over-exaggeration. Can't speak for your experiences, of course, but I will assert that you don't have a clear view of Oxnard.

In any case, glad you found your spot in Lompoc, and I can definitely relate to your experiences in Goleta -- expensive and noisy.

[GregJ]

RIGHT ON! I happen to love the Central Coast. After living north of LA for most of my adult life, we ventured to NoCal and found our way back here. Sure, a lot of downtown Lompoc has turned into the pits, the valley includes the surrounding towns which definitely are not the pits. Add the base and we have the greatest collection people you could find anyplace. Happy to be home.

[missalleykay]

I would like to point out that Lompoc has an infamous nickname of "Lompton" (comparing it to one of the nation's most gang infested area Compton). Of course the reason being is because the town is small dump with nothing to do crime rates and has it's own state penitentiary!

Of course every place has it's nice and bad areas. But let's just put it this way i lived in Lompoc when I was 9 years old (this was 10 years ago, not much has changed there) and my family only stayed for 11 months because it was just so bad. I clearly remember my first week of elementary school there because there was a lockdown because a man with a gun was on our campus. Turns out he had just robbed Vons and was cutting through the school. They ended up finding the man in my apartment complex located on North L Street. Was not the best first impression. But things like that are expected to happen in Lompoc. Of course this is only Thank God my family moved back to Goleta, a much safer, nicer place to live! Although Lompoc is only 45 minutes away, you wont find me visiting for ANY reason.

[the city]

Originally Posted by Oceanaddict

What do you think of Lompoc California? Is this more nothern Cali then Central?
Is it woodsy?
I have heard that it has a high crime rate. Is that true? Is there a better town near the AFB there that would be safer to live in?
I like what I see in regards to the climate there. It looks great.
Does anyone have any photos?

It does have high crime rates near downtown. But it's safer than many areas in California. It's mostly a commuter town for Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Vandenburg Airforce base.

There are two high schools in the area. Cabrillo and Lompoc. Cabrillo is the better one. I been to Lompoc's high school and it's gross. Their bathroom at the football stadium seems like it never gets cleaned or it just gets trashed all the time.

I would rather live in the city of Vandenburg village.

[MindlessWanderer]

I'm contemplating moving to Lompoc for a job offer I got recently.

What areas (inside the city or nearby) do you recommend me looking for housing?

Thanks in advance.

[Greenchili]

Originally Posted by MindlessWanderer

I'm contemplating moving to Lompoc for a job offer I got recently.

What areas (inside the city or nearby) do you recommend me looking for housing?

Thanks in advance.

Just get yourself a good realtor and he or she will send you pics of areas and houses. The Village is nice enough,but more expensive housing and utilities and water as hard as bullets. Country Club is nice,but same thing as Village. There are several nice areas to live. We live on the far west end of town in a newer community,Briar Creek and we love it! You have to visit to know what you like. South side in the hills is nice too. Good luck!

Greenchili

[whatever2]

I am from the east coast and we got stationed in VAFB. Lompoc is BORING. I am 25 and there is NOTHING in this town to do for us that are in our 20's. Everything closes before my grandma goes to bed and you have to DRIVE everywhere. Also, everyone knows everyone which I guess to some people is nice but not to me, if I don't like you then I don't want to see you or even hear about you but can't here in Lompoc cuz of the small town size. Can't wait to leave, yes I know some people love it here and I respect that but small town, everyone knows everyone, every place closes early, nothing to do after work (no "downtown" bars or things of this nature), crappy weather (I though California was always sunny not foggy and windy like here 90% of the time and no one is out on the streets after 10pm is NOT for me. I am from a BIG city back in the east and I have been on the train/subway at 3am in the morning BY MYSELF plenty of times and nothing has ever happened to me nor have I ever ever seen anyone get jumped, robbed, etc. and here in Lompoc and Santa Maria you ALWAYS here about people getting stabbed, killed, etc. soooo makes you wonder but to each's own, I def will NOT live here my whole life, that's for sure! Can't wait to leave here!!!

[diggs81]

Anyone have any input regarding the construction and plumbing of the new housing developments in Lompoc, such as Providence Landing (Vandenberg Village) and Lane's End (near the Wye)?

[ab67550]

I grew up in Lompoc and absolutely loved it. It's what you make of it. I had tons of friends and we had fun, what more can you ask for? Yes it's a rural community so we attended the occasional "barn" party or the summer night parties at Tajiguas beach. Times that i will never forget. If you have a positive attitude and a few good friends you can live anywhere and be happy. I think most of the people that complain about Lompoc will whine about something no matter where they live. I moved out of Lompoc in 2006 and now live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles). At first I loved living in the big city, so much to see and do, so much going on all the time. Now after a few years and 2 babies later, I'm completely over the big city life and everything that comes with it..traffic, car accidents everywhere, people always in a hurry, smog etc. I can honestly say I'm ready to go back to Lompoc to raise my kids somewhere quieter. But that's the problem, not a lot of jobs in Lompoc or even nearby. My wife and I are doing well career-wise in Los Angeles and we have pretty much come to the conclusion we might not be able to go back until we retire. What do I love about Lompoc? The hills, the cool fresh air, the mission and its surroundings, the nearby beaches and their campgrounds, Surf beach and its serenity, the nearby vineyards and wine tasting, riding my bike up to Miguelito Park, hiking up to lookout point on a clear day, I can keep going and going but it's just making me miss it even more. It's not a perfect town but folks, there are much worst places to live, trust me! If you don't believe it then you really need to get out and do some traveling. If you don't like it and blame the fact that you're broke and can't afford to live anywhere else I suggest you go to Bakersfield, Wasco, Lancaster, Palmdale etc, it's cheaper there and I'm sure you'll love it.