7th Ave, Crockett

7th Avenue in Crockett fringes the south-eastern edge of the town, giving many of the homes there a nice little view of the drop down to the S&G Sugar Factory and the old homes there. I recently came here to take a look at a 2-bedroom listed for just $1000.

With rents this low you might expect that this is one of those crime ridden areas, but because of the relatively low density of Crockett, crime is actually relatively moderate. There are a fair number of burglaries in the area and at least 4 registered sex offenders, but assaults are few and far between and most of the police action is limited to the downtown area where the businesses are located.

Schools in Crockett such as Swett High and Carquinez Middle School are solidly average--maybe just a touch above.

One of the main drawbacks of Crockett is the location. In order to get into the rest of the Bay Area, you have to get on Highway 80, which involves hitting some of the worst traffic in the Bay Area. There are some back ways to get into Contra Costa County but those methods get pretty packed as well.

Most of the homes here date from before World War II. But they are relatively well-kept and feel a bit secluded--more like a small town feel in a good way. Overall, I think I could get into living in a place like this. I will definitely keep an eye out for places here.