One of the top places to live in Northern California, Solano County is a thriving area comprising a diverse range of residential communities, scenic countryside views, and plenty of outdoor activities.
Read on to learn more about life in Solano County:
Lifestyle and recreation
Solano County has the qualities to welcome home buyers of all ages, from young professionals starting their careers, to growing families, to empty nesters. The affluent area offers a variety of upscale leisure and recreational activities, making it an appealing option for luxury home buyers. Here are a few of the most notable highlights:
- Exceptional golf courses
Avid golfers will delight in the numerous golf courses the county offers. Among the top spots to practice your swing at are the Cypress Lakes Golf Course in Vacaville, Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo, and the adjacent Rancho Solano Golf Course and Paradise Valley Golf Course in Fairfield.
- Exquisite wineries
Napa isn’t the only California region where great wine is grown. Solano County’s own Suisun Valley is a designated wine making region best-known for its Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. You can stop by a number of excellent wineries like the Wooden Valley Winery, Vezer Family Vineyard, and Seven Artisans Winery to sample their respective offerings.
- Sprawling outdoor recreation destinations
Do you enjoy heading out for outdoor adventures? Some of the best things to do in Solano County include hiking, biking, camping, and communing with nature. The Bay Area Ridge Trail, one of the county’s most popular outdoor attractions with over 550 miles of multi-use trails, is accessible from the Lynch Canyon Open Space. If you want to see panoramic views of Vacaville and the Sacramento Valley, climbing the Browns Valley Open Space Preserve would be right up your alley.
- All-ages attractions
Solano County has a number of great attractions that every member of the family can enjoy. Spend an entire day hopping on and off the rides at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, or enjoy a whimsical factory tour with the Jelly Belly Candy Company. The county is also home to the fascinating Travis Air Force Base, a military installation that offers educational facilities showcasing incredible achievements in aviation technology.
Education
Solano County is primarily served by the following school districts:
- Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District
- Vallejo City Unified School District
- Vacaville Unified School District
- Dixon Unified School District
- Benicia Unified School District
- Travis Unified School District
Transportation
One of the best things about living in Solano County is accessibility to other notable destinations around California.
Four interstate highways and five state roads pass through the county, including Interstate 80, Interstate 505, and State Route 12. You’re also not too far away from Sacramento (approximately 35 miles heading northeast), San Francisco (less than 60 miles southwest), and San Jose (roughly 90 miles to the south).
Solano County’s efficient public transportation system (which includes rail systems, buses, and ferries) is served by the Solano County Transit (SolTrans), Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST), and the San Francisco Bay Ferry.
There are also local fixed route public transportation services like the Vacaville City Coach and Rio Vista Delta Breeze bus systems.
Some Solano County cities, such as Vacaville, are also known for their bike-friendly streets and trails. Efforts are underway to develop a unified bicycle system throughout the county.
The nearest commercial and international airports are the Blake Sky Park Airport and Napa County Airport, which are both around 30 minutes away. Another major terminal near Solano County is the Sacramento International Airport, which is located less than an hour away via State Route 113.
The Nut Tree Airport and Rio Vista Municipal Airport is accessible to the public for general aviation (private transport and recreational flying) purposes.
Employment opportunities
Job opportunities are aplenty in Solano County. Top industries include healthcare, retail, manufacturing, construction, and wholesale trade.
The Travis Air Force Base is Solano County’s largest employer with more than 14,000 military members and civilian employees on its payroll. Other top employers include medical care provider Kaiser Permanente (based in Vallejo) with around 3,900 employees and the county government (based in Fairfield) with around 2,800 employees.
Cost of living
Because of its prime location, upscale real estate market, and desirable attractions and destinations in the area, the cost of living in Solano County is slightly higher than most places in America.
According to Sperling’s Best Places, the county’s cost of living index is at 146, which can be attributed to its luxury housing market. To be fair, it is still more affordable than the state-wide index recorded at 168.6.
Find your dream home in Solano County with the Loney & Worley Team
Are you thinking about moving to Solano County? Explore your real estate options here by getting in touch with the Loney & Worley Team. Call 707.344.1300 or email AWorleyRealty(at)gmail(dotted)com today to get started.