Is Tracy CA a more conservative area? (Berkeley, Santa Clara: live in, agricultural)

[SamCA]

Im from the Bay Area and im trying to move to a more conservative friendly type area that's cheaper than here. One option that came to mind is tracy since its not too far from the Bay Area and is much cheaper. But is the area conservative at all? When I say conservative I don't just mean politically, im independent myself. I mean more on a social level. So higher church attendance, more traditional values, more family oriented. Does this correctly describe the area, atleast compared to the Bay Area. I have heard that the Central Valley in general is more conservative, but does that apply to Tracy as well? It is pretty close to the Bay, so might not be as much as other areas. Any insight would be helpful, thanks!

[MelanieB1980]

Tracy will be cheaper and maybe a little more conservative, it depends what you are wanting by "high church attendance". It's hotter too.

[SFBayBoomer]

Originally Posted by SamCA

Im from the Bay Area and im trying to move to a more conservative friendly type area that's cheaper than here. One option that came to mind is tracy since its not too far from the Bay Area and is much cheaper. But is the area conservative at all? When I say conservative I don't just mean politically, im independent myself. I mean more on a social level. So higher church attendance, more traditional values, more family oriented. Does this correctly describe the area, atleast compared to the Bay Area. I have heard that the Central Valley in general is more conservative, but does that apply to Tracy as well? It is pretty close to the Bay, so might not be as much as other areas. Any insight would be helpful, thanks!

I can't speak for the Tracy of today, but I spent a lot of time visiting my grandparents in the boonies of Tracy when I was a child, and Tracy then was significantly more Republican than the SF Bay Area, due primarily to it being more agricultural. Farmers usually want to keep money in their family. That doesn't mean "family values" to me, but it might to you.

[Slowpoke_TX]

Originally Posted by SFBayBoomer

Farmers usually want to keep money in their family. That doesn't mean "family values" to me, but it might to you.

Providing for your family members isn't an example of family values in action, in your opinion?

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by SFBayBoomer

I can't speak for the Tracy of today, but I spent a lot of time visiting my grandparents in the boonies of Tracy when I was a child, and Tracy then was significantly more Republican than the SF Bay Area, due primarily to it being more agricultural. Farmers usually want to keep money in their family. That doesn't mean "family values" to me, but it might to you.

Well, today's Tracy has a lot of residents who are commuters into the inner Bay Area. It's quite likely that these people have to spend a lot of time on their commute - which translates into less time with their family and their community involvement. How well do they know their neighbors? Do they have the energy and time to invest into local activities? All of that has to be factored in for those considering a move - and in my view, more important than political leanings...

[zitsky]

Years ago I worked with someone who had a 2 hour commute from Tracy to Santa Clara. He got up early to do it. At least Tracy isn't quite as far as Lodi, Manteca, etc. So commute is a little better.

[davdaven]

Is Tracy cheaper? Yes.

Is Tracy more conservative-friendly? If you mean Republican-friendly, yes, anything east of the East Bay hills is.

Is church attendance higher in Tracy? Possibly, but there are lots of churches in the Bay Area in general. Even a place that conservatives have probably written off, Berkeley, has a lot of churches. It even has the Graduate Theological Union there.

Is Tracy more family oriented? In some ways yes, but residents tend to have such long commutes that they spend less time with their families, so I would argue that there's no net overall change.

Tracy is still in California and near the Bay Area, so if you're looking for bible-thumping, abortion-clinic-bombing types, you'll have to move much further than Tracy.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by davdaven

Is Tracy more family oriented? In some ways yes, but residents tend to have such long commutes that they spend less time with their families, so I would argue that there's no net overall change.

That's what I fear...it's kind of a moot point to find a "family-friendly" community if you don't have time to spend with your family and community.

[veritased]

Alot of California is less liberal once you are outside the pockets of public benefit sucking cities.
You know who you are.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by veritased

Alot of California is less liberal once you are outside the pockets of public benefit sucking cities.
You know who you are.

Lots of poor whites on welfare. They don't just live in cities.