California as a whole provides some incredible places to live – Discovery Bay is just one of them.
But making a move anywhere can be a challenge if you don’t know what you’re getting into.
This guide provides you with some of the best and worst things about moving to Discovery Bay to help you decide if it’s the right move for you.
Contents
- Pros of Living in Discovery Bay, CA
- 1. The Weather is Moderate Most of the Time
- 2. There is a Magnificent View
- 3. You Can Enjoy An Amazing Sense of Community
- 4. It’s Great for Those That Don’t Love Rainy Weather
- 5. Elementary Schools Are Pretty Good
- 6. There’s Plenty for the Kids
- 7. It’s Great for Those Who Want Privacy
- 8. It’s a Pretty Safe Place to Live
- Cons of Living in Discovery Bay, CA
- Pros and Cons of Living in Discovery Bay, CA – Summary Table
- California Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
Pros of Living in Discovery Bay, CA
Discovery Bay offers plenty of advantages to its residents – a few of which are listed below.
1. The Weather is Moderate Most of the Time
One of the things people love about Discovery Bay is the weather.
It doesn’t quite experience the same extreme temperatures that you often find in other California areas.
Instead, residents tend to enjoy warm summers and mild, cooler temperatures the rest of the year.
And even in the warmer months, you get a pretty nice breeze thanks to being near the bay.
2. There is a Magnificent View
Whether you enjoy an ocean view or a mountain view, Discovery Bay has something for you.
Many people enjoy these views directly from their waterfront homes.
For those that don’t, it’s not difficult to get out and explore them.
There are plenty of outdoor activities – like boating, fishing, and hiking – available at their fingertips.
3. You Can Enjoy An Amazing Sense of Community
Discovery Bay is known as a great place to live if you want a sense of belonging and being a part of something.
You can always find parks, parades, recreational facilities, libraries, and events for families to gather.
There are also plenty of churches, local businesses, and more dedicated to keeping the community connected and thriving.
4. It’s Great for Those That Don’t Love Rainy Weather
If you’re looking for an escape from the constant rain that some areas have, Discovery Bay is a good place to live.
There is only an average of about 12 inches of rain per year.
That is actually one of the lowest amounts of rainfall in the entire country.
So if drier climates are your cup of tea, Discovery Bay has you covered.
5. Elementary Schools Are Pretty Good
There are many ways to rank a school system, which can often make it difficult to determine just how good a school really is.
However, according to most rankings, the elementary education in Discovery Bay is consistently ranked as average or above average – especially in comparison to the rest of the state.
And residents provide good feedback on the elementary schools.
6. There’s Plenty for the Kids
If you have children, Discovery Bay might be an ideal location.
In addition to having a large number of families with kids, there are also plenty of activities.
There are several libraries, child care facilities, swimming, and other water sports, clubs, sports teams, and after-school programs.
And Discovery Bay Park provides plenty of fun for the whole family.
7. It’s Great for Those Who Want Privacy
Though Discovery Bay definitely has a great sense of community, it’s also a good place to live for those who want to get away.
It’s not exactly in the middle of a bunch of big businesses or loud crowds.
You actually have to drive for all of that.
So, if a quiet life is your idea of paradise, Discovery Bay is a good location to consider.
8. It’s a Pretty Safe Place to Live
No place is devoid of crime, of course, but Discovery Bay is safe in comparison to many others.
It’s been given an overall crime grade of a B- with the crime rate being about 22.46 per 1000 people.
When deciding where to move, note that the southern part of Discovery Bay tends to have the lowest amount of crime, while the eastern part has the highest.
Cons of Living in Discovery Bay, CA
Discovery Bay fits the needs and desires of many people, but not all.
Before making a decision, consider the following disadvantages to decide which category you fit into.
1. The Cost of Living is Pretty High
Living in Discovery Bay is not exactly cheap.
The overall cost of living is rated as 162.8 in comparison to 100 for the country.
In fact, the cost of living in Discovery Bay is even higher than the average in the state of California.
The median cost of a home is nearly $800,000, and the median household income is over $120,000.
2. There’s Not Much By Way of Shopping and Nightlife
Discovery Bay is a great place for escaping from the hustle and bustle, but that comes with downsides.
One of the big ones is that it’s actually pretty excluded from most conveniences and activities people enjoy.
That includes shopping, various restaurants, and definitely clubs and other nightlife.
To enjoy such things means traveling outside of Discovery Bay to surrounding areas.
3. You’re In for a Pretty Long Commute
Unfortunately, if you want to enjoy those things, you’ve got to deal with a long commute and the accompanying traffic.
Most residents work outside of Discovery Bay to afford the higher cost of living.
And one of the main complaints about all this is that you can count on about a 45-minute commute to reach your destination and another one to get back home.
4. Middle and High Schools Are Lacking
While not the worst, the middle and high schools that Discovery Bay residents attend could be better.
They’re typically rated with a C-, which isn’t that terrible compared to some schools.
And high school graduation rates are higher than in California as a whole.
However, if you’re looking for very high-quality education, “average” might not be enough for you.
And college enrollment rates are actually lower than the rest of the state.
5. It’s Pretty Foggy During the Winter
A common complaint in Discovery Bay is the amount of fog that residents have to contend with – especially during the wintertime.
Other than being annoying, interfering with the beautiful view, and impacting the enjoyment of boating, these conditions significantly impact safety.
A long commute is bad enough.
It’s even worse when visibility is compromised.
6. It’s Not the Place for Cooler Weather
Sorry, but if you’re looking for a white Christmas and ski slopes, Discovery Bay is not the place for you.
Statistically speaking, it never snows there.
December temperatures usually don’t drop below 55 degrees, but you can count on clouds at least some of December.
If you love winter weather, you’ll either need to move elsewhere or travel during the winter months.
7. And Forget About Having a Garden
If the idea of having a beautiful garden in your yard is part of your plan for your new home, you might want to consider moving elsewhere.
The soil in Discovery Bay is simply not suitable for most plants.
Actually, it’s more toxic for plants, in general.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have a garden, but you’ll have to get recommendations from a landscaper or other expert to choose plants that will survive.
8. It’s Changing
Change is not a bad thing, but it can interfere with things you might find as advantages.
Discovery Bay is gaining in population and the number of businesses is increasing.
Neither is a terrible thing unless you love the idea of being away from everything.
If that’s what you’re searching for, Discovery Bay might not fit the bill in a few years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Discovery Bay, CA – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Discovery Bay, CA | Cons of Living in Discovery Bay, CA |
|---|---|
| 1. The Weather is Moderate Most of the Time | 1. The Cost of Living is Pretty High |
| 2. There is a Magnificent View | 2. There’s Not Much By Way of Shopping and Nightlife |
| 3. You Can Enjoy An Amazing Sense of Community | 3. You’re In for a Pretty Long Commute |
| 4. It’s Great for Those That Don’t Love Rainy Weather | 4. Middle and High Schools Are Lacking |
| 5. Elementary Schools Are Pretty Good | 5. It’s Pretty Foggy During the Winter |
| 6. There’s Plenty for the Kids | 6. It’s Not the Place for Cooler Weather |
| 7. It’s Great for Those Who Want Privacy | 7. And Forget About Having a Garden |
| 8. It’s a Pretty Safe Place to Live | 8. It’s Changing |
California Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: California Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Discovery Bay a diverse place to live?
Yes, Discovery Bay is considered a very diverse area, with a diversity score of 96 out of 100.
About 67% of the population is white, while the rest of the population is a mix of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and other races.
What about health care in Discovery Bay?
There are more than 76 hospitals and other medical facilities near Discovery Bay that have pretty good ratings from patients.
You’re still looking at driving about 10 miles to get to one, but most also offer telehealth services, so you don’t always have to be on-site for care.
One thing to note, though, is that the cost of health care is a definite factor in the high cost of living in Discovery Bay.
Therefore, you’ll need some pretty good insurance or you should be ready for some really high medical bills.
Is it a good place to retire?
That kind of depends on you and what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a quiet place to retire, then currently, Discovery Bay is a good choice.
As mentioned earlier, though, changes are happening, so that might not be the case in a few years.
It is wonderful if you want to enjoy boating and fishing during your retirement years.
However, one thing is certain: you’re going to want a pretty large amount of money saved and a house that’s paid off before you retire there.
Where can I work in Discovery Bay?
There are plenty of coffee shops, community opportunities, some grocery stores, and similar options in Discovery Bay.
However, most of the residents that make a higher income do so by traveling to surrounding areas.
Others work from home or start their own businesses.
As the area is developing more, opportunities in Discovery Bay will likely increase over the next few years.
Is it really that far away from everything?
It’s not exactly in the middle of nowhere, but it’s also not in the midst of everything.
Basically, you can find things you need in Discovery Bay, like groceries and necessities – small businesses in the area provide all of that.
And don’t worry.
There are several coffee shops, so you won’t be going without your daily cup.
However, for malls, bigger restaurants, and access to more, you’ll definitely need to take a drive.
Discovery Bay offers a moderate climate, beautiful views, a strong sense of community, and low crime rates, but it comes with a high cost of living, limited amenities, long commutes, and average schools.