10 Pros and Cons of Living in Brentwood, CA

Located in Contra County, Brentwood is a vibrant and fast-growing city in California. Over the years, the city has transformed from a rural location focused on agriculture to a bustling city with over 65,000 residents, highly developed technology, job opportunities, gorgeous parks, and excellent schools. 

There are, however, some downsides to living in this city, which every prospective resident should know of before making the move.  Let’s talk about the pros and cons of living in Brentwood, CA!

Pros

1. Proximity to big cities

Brentwood is conveniently situated between many major metropolitan areas, each only a few miles away. Some of these cities include Sacramento, which is 46 miles away from Brentwood. San Francisco, which is 41 miles away, and Oakland, which is 33 miles away 

Brentwood’s proximity to these major cities gives its residents a wider range of opportunities to have fun, access good jobs and schools, and attend big events.

2. Get a job in nearby San Francisco

Brentwood has lots of employment opportunities, and what makes it even more attractive is that residents have access to high-paying jobs in big cities that can be reached within a short time.

A good number of Brentwood residents work in San Francisco because of the large number of lucrative jobs in the city that residents need to meet the high cost of living in Brentwood. This city provides employment opportunities to people in different industries, including aerospace, electronics, information technology, tourism, and transportation.

With an unemployment rate of only 4.6%, most of Brentwood’s residents are employed. So, you’re sure to find a good job here.

3. The city is beautiful and family-friendly

Brentwood is a beautiful city and a pleasant place to raise a family. There are miles of wonderful walking and hiking routes in and around the city, and there are many award-winning facilities and parks for residents to enjoy.

The protected farmlands, the slopes of Mount Diablo, the California Delta waterways, and the numerous world-famous golf course hubs all contribute to the city’s natural splendor.

With so many free and kid-friendly options, there’s no doubt that this city is a great place for families.

4. Brentwood has 38 schools

There are 38 schools in this city. They include 19 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 9 high schools.

The state of California was once regarded as the benchmark for educational excellence. However, because of tax changes, there has been less money spent on schools, which has led to a decline in the system’s quality. However, Brentwood has been able to maintain its reputation and is still ranked in the top 20% of school districts in the nation for educational excellence. You have a lot of excellent options in Brentwood when selecting a school for your kids

5. Good internet connection

Whether you work from home or elsewhere, a reliable internet connection is essential in today’s fast-paced digital world. You may find it interesting to learn that Brentwood has a good and speedy internet connection. There are 15 different internet service providers available in this city, and this is one of the reasons for the good internet connection. 

If you’re a freelancer or you work from home, you’d enjoy living here. 

Cons

1. Brentwood gets very hot in the summer

The weather in Brentwood is often pleasant. However, summers can become extremely hot, exceeding the 90s. There are typically 260 sunny days in the city per year. There are only 15 inches of rainfall in the city each year, and there is no snow.

July is the hottest month of the year, while December is the coldest month, and in this period, the temperature hardly ever drops below 40°F.

If you’re moving from a city that’s always cold for most of the year, then you might find it a bit difficult to adjust to Brentwood’s hot weather.

2. Drought is a recurrent experience

Brentwood, as well as the whole of California, has been suffering through a prolonged drought for the past few years. There have been five straight years of drought in the city and the state.

The trouble, however, is that a megadrought, which is the worst-case scenario according to scientists, can last for decades, and this megadrought has been the worst in the city and state in the past 500 years. Water supply problems may occur in the future for the state and the city if this current trend continues.

3. Long commute time to work

Due to the concentration of high-paying jobs in areas like San Francisco, many Brentwood residents must endure long commutes to get to and from work every day, which can be quite tedious.

The typical round-trip commute time is one hour, equivalent to a two-hour commute each way; this is two times higher than the U.S. average.

In addition, San Francisco is one of the top five cities with the worst traffic. And being one of the major employers of Brentwood residents, people who work here spend more time than usual stuck in traffic to get to their place of work every day.

4. Earthquakes are common in this city

Some people consider California the earthquake headquarters because the state experiences about 100 earthquakes daily! And every day, in Brentwood, at least one microearthquake is felt, although these earthquakes are now of low hazard and are quite tiny.

This is a major con of living here because residents are always anxious, waiting for the next earthquake to strike, making the city and the state as a whole ticking time bombs. Those are some pretty terrifying odds to be up against.

5. The cost of living is 46% higher than the national average

Brentwood has a 46% higher cost of living than the national average. Housing costs have also increased dramatically due to the influx of new residents. Compared to the national median home price of $428,000, the median home price in Brentwood is $797,248.

The cost of both utilities and groceries is 30% higher than the U.S. average. Here, a loaf of bread costs $5.05, milk is $3.16 per gallon, and bananas are $4.37. Transportation expenses are 34% higher than the national average, while healthcare expenses are 28% higher than the national average. Living in Brentwood is very expensive, which is a great disadvantage of living here.

Finally

Brentwood has a lot to offer, no doubt. The benefits of living here include access to decent employment possibilities, reputable schools, and a strong internet connection. You should, however, weigh the cons of living here, such as the frequent natural disasters and the high cost of living, before making the move to Brentwood, CA.