11 Pros and Cons of Living in Clovis, CA

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Clovis is a small city in Fresno County, California.

As of 2020, the city had a population of 112,663 residents and the average age of the residents in this city is approximately 35 years old.

This means that the city has a fairly young population. 

So let’s take a quick, closer look at the data of Clovis, California.

The median income per household in this city is $84,119 per year.

The median property value in Clovis is approximately $341,800 and the city has an average unemployment and poverty rate of about 8.84%. 

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of living in this small city?

Pros of Living in Clovis, California

The great thing about living in Clovis, as you will soon see, is that there are far more benefits to living in Clovis than there are disadvantages. 

1. Cost of living

One of the biggest drawcards to Clovis is the fact that it rates very high in affordability for the state of California.

One of the biggest factors in determining affordability in a city is the rent or property prices in that city, followed by the cost of education, clothing, groceries, utilities, and what you spend on entertainment.

Keep in mind, that while the average price of a home in Clovis is double the national average, it is still just over half of what the state average is.

So, in terms of housing prices in relation to the national average, Clovis does not fare well.

However, the cost of housing in California is generally higher than that of the rest of the country.

The average home price in Clovis is $420,300 while the state average is $684,800.

In terms of other expenses such as groceries, utilities, and entertainment, Clovis averages out with the national average.

And, for California, it is a relatively cheaper option. 

2. Friendly neighbors

Clovis gives you a small-town living at its best.

Here you will meet some of the most friendly people in the state!

Everyone is helpful or willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Neighbors look out for each other and everyone knows your name. 

There is an abundance of community support in this small city.

You will feel a strong sense of community and inclusion once you break through the shell and get to know the people of this city.

It’s something quite refreshing if you are not used to it or have been living in a larger, more metropolitan city.

Larger cities tend to be colder and there is much less of a sense of community.

Furthermore, Fresno County is one of the most diverse counties in the area. 

3. Peace and quiet

You will be miles away from the hustle and bustle of big city living.

You will also find that the priorities here are much more geared toward family and family gatherings.

The pace of life is much slower and you’ll be able to enjoy the smaller things in life again.

You won’t feel like time is passing you by. 

And, with that, comes a much higher quality of life.

You have more time and much less stress to deal with.

Time spent with friends and family can actually be enjoyed and there isn’t this constant rush to get things along.

You will notice the slower pace in literally everything from grocery shopping to drinking a cup of coffee at your favorite coffee shop. 

4. Ample parking

If you’ve ever lived in a big city where parking is a problem, you will have a great sigh of relief in Clovis.

Parking problems are a thing of the past.

Imagine pulling up to your favorite store and seeing more than enough parking.

You pull in and pull out in a jiffy.

You don’t need to drive around the block several times waiting for a spot to open up. 

5. A great place to raise a family

It’s not just a great place to raise a family.

It’s also a great place to retire.

There is a lot of peace and quiet in this city and crime is relatively low in comparison to other bigger metropolitan cities. 

Old school values are the order of the day here.

You’ll see kids playing outside, families going on picnics, family-friendly rodeos, and festivals all throughout the year.

So what exactly makes a place good for raising kids?

Well, a good education system, good public transport, low crime levels, and affordable housing are all important factors.

And, Clovis ticks all the boxes.

In fact, there is a shift in 2020 to make public transportation free in the city. 

6. Extreme weather

Everyone knows that California is the earthquake capital in the US.

But, Clovis is somewhat exempt from this.

For the most part, you are safer in Clovis than in other areas of the state when it comes to natural disasters. 

Bear in mind though, that due to the volcano’s being situated close to the city, there is a higher likelihood of being affected by an eruption than in other parts of California.

But, hurricanes are not a big problem here and neither are wildfires. 

7. Lower crime rate than the state average

More and more people are starting to call Clovis their home due to the lower levels of crime in the city.

The average crime reported per 1,000 residents is 23.

On average, there are 2 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents and 21 property crimes reported per 1,000 residents. 

Keep in mind that this does by no means mean that there is no crime.

Certain areas of the city are still affected by crime and communities work together to try and make the city as crime-free as possible. 

In terms of violent crime, Clovis is half that of the national average or, to put it into perspective, that of bigger metropolitan cities like Chicago or New York. 

8. Schooling

This city and Fresno County, in general, are known for some great schools and a very good education system.

If you are a parent, then this is one thing that you consider before making the move to another city or county.

There are 33 school districts and some great schools in the county as a whole.

For example, Clovis Unified has been named several times in the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

In addition, this school has been honored as a California Distinguished School more than a hundred times.

This should give you a good indication of the quality of the schools in this area. 

Cons of Living in Clovis

There is no doubt that there are more advantages than disadvantages to living in Clovis.

We could only really find three disadvantages. 

1. Limited nightlife

The reality is that you can’t always have it all.

While Clovis is a great place to raise a family and there are many family-friendly events going on throughout the year, it does not bode as well on the social scene for young adults. 

The options for nightlife entertainment in this place are sparse, with the exception of a few bars and clubs in the city.

To say it lacks diversity in that sense would be an understatement.

Some examples of what you might find here, which are reminiscent of small-town living, is a bar called The Old Town Tavern.

It’s located in the heart of the city’s Old Town district and has a very warm, inviting, small city vibe about it.

The food is what you would expect from a place like this; traditional pub fare. 

If live music and bands are more your scenes, then you’ll enjoy an evening at Peeve’s Public House.

This place is a firm favorite with the locals and it’s easy to understand why.

But, apart from the few bars and clubs, there’s little else going on in the evenings.

2. No major cities nearby

Clovis is a great place to raise a family and, as previously mentioned, there are a lot of family-friendly things to do in the city and the surrounding area, such as hiking.

And, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, this is the ideal city for you.

However, there are certain things that you can only get in the bigger cities, like proper healthcare.

The closest biggest city to Clovis is Fresno.

There is one medical center in Clovis and about 15 hospitals in nearby cities.

Having said that, another thing that might be a problem in a small city is the availability of jobs. 

Usually, if there is a larger city situated nearby, it’s easier to find a good job and just commute to work.

This is not the case with Clovis. 

3. Summer heat

Clovis is located in Fresno County.

That means that the city is also surrounded by mountains.

There is a very little coastal breeze that makes it to the city in the summertime.

As such, summers can quickly remind you that Fresno County is located in a desert.

The heat can get pretty bad here over the summers and if you aren’t used to this kind of heat, it may be a very big deterring factor for you. 

The warmest time of the year is usually from July through October when temperatures soar well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition, the air quality in this region is not great either.

The heat only exasperates that problem.

The only good thing about the summer heat is that it is dry and not humid. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Clovis, CA – Summary Table

California Safety Overview

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Safety Index:

70

• 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