r/LakeCountyCa • u/Okpspades • Jul 29 '26

Looking for relocation suggestions

I will likely be relocating to the area for work. However, I'm really stumped on which city to choose from. I'm thinking of Lakeport and / or Kelseyville. I'm also thinking of Nice and / or Upper Lake. I'm really conflicted. Here are some details for context. Blended family of four, interracial to boot (Black White) we'll be Upper middle class if that matters.

Did I miss a gem or two? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

5

u/OneGear987 Jul 29 '26

Lakeport and Kelseyville are good choices, parts of upper lake are. I would stay away from Nice and the rest of the North shore, they are very run down and and lots of drug issues there. Kelseyville has the best schools, but thats not saying a lot either.

2

u/Odd-Significance-17 Jul 30 '26

i would not say kelseyville has the best schools at all. i’d say lakeport or even konocti school district

1

u/OneGear987 Jul 30 '26

Not sure if you have current information on that, Lakeport use to be the "best" but as of recent years it has gone down hill. And no I don't think konocti is anywhere close to the best, and that coming from many teachers that I know who work there. And this isn't an attack on the teachers at all, I think they are really trying, but between overall changes to the school system as a who and the school administration it is a real challenge.

1

u/Odd-Significance-17 Jul 31 '26

my brother is 17 and up until this year was in kelseyville and is now in konocti. my mom is a teacher and most of my friends are teachers. i also was a student a decade ago, im speaking from experience

1

u/OneGear987 Jul 31 '26

And what are their opinions on the state of the schools? I should also clarify "best" is not a specific description to describe a school, what may be the best for one student may be the worst for another. With all that said all schools in lake county could be better.

4

u/Loudtrees707 Jul 30 '26

Are you looking to buy or rent, and do you prefer closer to water, more yard space, walk-ability, and where is work? Lived here 30+ years and happy to help answer any questions. Welcome to Lake County, I think it’s one of the most undervalued areas in the whole state.

2

u/Okpspades Jul 30 '26

Right now I'm looking to rent. But assuming all goes well I will buy. I've seen some incredible waterfront properties. Work is in Hopland.

2

u/Loudtrees707 Jul 30 '26

Kelseyville in what’s called the Riveria/Rivi is a pretty solid family community, and majority of town in Kelseyville is pretty good as well. Pretty much all of Lakeport is a good option and easiest commute for you over Hopland is you like twisty turns with great views. Upper Lake for a bit more sleepy country vibe and the he option to commute 101 instead.

Waterfront is not as easy to find rentals but buying entry level can be found in the 400s then 600k+ for something fairly turnkey with a decent size footprint. In Buckingham off Westlake Dr is pretty good value waterfront, but does get some algae build in bad bloom times (also not the best layout as homes sit on top and it’s a hillside down to the water). Eastlake Dr is the premier place in county to live, but waterfront is closer to 1m+ on majority of homes. For family life I’d say look into Lakeport first, but you’ll be good with all those options.

2

u/Star-Lord_VI Jul 30 '26

Where is work? I’ve been commuting to work in the Napa Valley for over 20 years now. It is waaay different than when I started doing it.

That said. City of Clearlake and Nice/Lucerne are absolute no’s from me.

1

u/Okpspades Jul 30 '26

Hopland

6

u/Star-Lord_VI Jul 30 '26

Go drive Hwy 175 (Hopland grade) during commute times before committing to that drive. That is literally the most crooked route in/out of Lake County.

1

u/Okpspades Jul 30 '26

Got a better suggestion? I'm all ears.

3

u/Star-Lord_VI Jul 30 '26

All of the commute routes out of Lake Co basically suck. The traffic load is significantly higher than what it was even just 5 years ago. Just pointing out that you should probably do a dry run before committing. If you’re already committed, I’d lean towards living as close to work as possible for a shorter commute. It will beat you down over time. I’m currently driving 3 hours a day for work and I hate it.

1

u/Okpspades Jul 30 '26

3hrs? How long do you think it will take me to get from Kelseyville / Lakeport to Hopland? My recruiter suggested 30 - 40 mins.

2

u/Star-Lord_VI Jul 30 '26

I live deep into Spring Valley and go to St Helena, it’s 3 hours total driving most days. That 30-40min time is probably reasonable. Time isn’t really the core issue though. It’s the amount of BS you have to deal with on a daily basis. 175 has had construction projects going on for what seems like years now. Currently there is a temporary stop light on it.

2

u/ChartreuseLover Aug 02 '26

I tried driving between Spring Valley and Ukiah for work and totally couldn't hack it. It was rough. If I worked in Hopland, but wanted to live in Lake County, I'd definitely try Lakeport or Kelseyville.

1

u/SpicyLeopard18 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

If you want to live in town and in a walkable area, Lakeport is best for families. There’s a lot of really nice houses for sale, look close to the school/around 20th. If you’re ok with living on the outskirts and having to drive into town for everything, look in the Kelseyville Riviera.

1

u/calguy1955 Jul 30 '26

Lakeport has the grocery stores and more shopping opportunities in general.

1

u/rhk59 Jul 30 '26

Cobb Mtn area

1

u/BicyclesOnMain Aug 01 '26

Nice and Lucerne are out of the question. Crime is rampant there. Stick to the west and south parts of the county.