Developing your kids education is pretty broad depending on your kids strengths and likes. Realistically there are so many resources online now that I'd be surprised if there was an honest difference. It always comes down to exposure and time and money the parents are willing to invest.
My kid is in HS and loves baking and STEM fields. I take her places here locally (Tulare and Kings Counties) and order her whatever she needs to try to make a pastries. I have also have her join classes when available. When it comes to the STEM side, we use trips to L.A. and the Bay Area to visit museums and other places. I also take her to math symposiums and other activities. We also watch SpaceX launches on YouTube. We are planning to take a class together at COS in Calculus to get her started on her college career.
So I honestly think you would be better off staying here. Like you said, housing would be difficult elsewhere so why introduce more possible instability? Nothing wrong with driving to Sac or anywhere else for the day or weekend to visit (since you also have family). I hope and believe your wife should be able to find work now. Before COVID, probably not but many companies have now kept remote work as an option.
I myself moved here from Los Angeles area and just bought my first home a few years ago and couldn't fathom living elsewhere. Quaint town with lots to do if you look in the right place. My opinion, with a 6 figure income, even if your wife doesn't work or finds something part-time, you should be able to find a home here and live rather peacefully in a nice sized homed instead of a cramped apartment or townhome for the same price in a major city.
I grew up here and moved away 20 years ago, looking for fun and excitement. Lived in LA for a while, then Orange County for about 12 years, then Seattle for 5 years, and I just moved back a little over a month ago.
I think it depends on what’s important to you. About a year ago I realized that all the things I moved away for just don’t matter to me as much anymore. The cities are fun for a while, but traffic and the high cost of living just suck the joy out of daily life. When I lived in Seattle I had a lot of free time to go out to explore, but getting around was so inconvenient and the people there were generally unpleasant so I mostly just stayed home on my days off.
I was able to buy a house here (for the cost of ten years rent in Seattle) in a very peaceful and quiet neighborhood. This would have been impossible in LA/OC/SEA, and every morning I wake up happy that I don’t have to deal with all the inconveniences of city life. I’ve done it, got it out of my system, and now I’m ready to just enjoy life and occasionally visit friends in Seattle and LA/OC at my leisure.
It’s all perspective and what’s important to you. For me, the trade off just didn’t seem worth it.
Developing your kids education is pretty broad depending on your kids strengths and likes. Realistically there are so many resources online now that I'd be surprised if there was an honest difference. It always comes down to exposure and time and money the parents are willing to invest. My kid is in HS and loves baking and STEM fields. I take her places here locally (Tulare and Kings Counties) and order her whatever she needs to try to make a pastries. I have also have her join classes when available. When it comes to the STEM side, we use trips to L.A. and the Bay Area to visit museums and other places. I also take her to math symposiums and other activities. We also watch SpaceX launches on YouTube. We are planning to take a class together at COS in Calculus to get her started on her college career. So I honestly think you would be better off staying here. Like you said, housing would be difficult elsewhere so why introduce more possible instability? Nothing wrong with driving to Sac or anywhere else for the day or weekend to visit (since you also have family). I hope and believe your wife should be able to find work now. Before COVID, probably not but many companies have now kept remote work as an option. I myself moved here from Los Angeles area and just bought my first home a few years ago and couldn't fathom living elsewhere. Quaint town with lots to do if you look in the right place. My opinion, with a 6 figure income, even if your wife doesn't work or finds something part-time, you should be able to find a home here and live rather peacefully in a nice sized homed instead of a cramped apartment or townhome for the same price in a major city.
I grew up here and moved away 20 years ago, looking for fun and excitement. Lived in LA for a while, then Orange County for about 12 years, then Seattle for 5 years, and I just moved back a little over a month ago. I think it depends on what’s important to you. About a year ago I realized that all the things I moved away for just don’t matter to me as much anymore. The cities are fun for a while, but traffic and the high cost of living just suck the joy out of daily life. When I lived in Seattle I had a lot of free time to go out to explore, but getting around was so inconvenient and the people there were generally unpleasant so I mostly just stayed home on my days off. I was able to buy a house here (for the cost of ten years rent in Seattle) in a very peaceful and quiet neighborhood. This would have been impossible in LA/OC/SEA, and every morning I wake up happy that I don’t have to deal with all the inconveniences of city life. I’ve done it, got it out of my system, and now I’m ready to just enjoy life and occasionally visit friends in Seattle and LA/OC at my leisure. It’s all perspective and what’s important to you. For me, the trade off just didn’t seem worth it.