Assemblyman David Tangipa Makes the Case for Fresno as California’s Affordable Alternative

Fresno is drawing young families out of California’s priciest metro areas, according to State Assemblyman David Tangipa, who represents the 8th Assembly District and laid out the city’s appeal in a recent opinion piece.

Tangipa, who grew up in a low-income family — his mother immigrated from Tonga and his father is a disabled veteran — said he chose Fresno State as a walk-on football player partly because of the cost of living. He recalled that while friends in San Jose were paying $3,000 for a shared bedroom, he found his own bedroom in a brand-new Fresno apartment for $500.

The comparison reflects a broader statewide trend. California’s Department of Finance reported that roughly 288,600 more people left the state for other states than moved in last year. Tangipa argues Fresno offers an exception to that pattern.

Housing costs set Fresno apart

In September, the median home price in California was just under $900,000, while in Fresno it was about $400,000, according to figures cited by Tangipa. He said that price difference typically buys a house with a yard in Fresno, compared with a condo or less in Los Angeles or the Bay Area.

Fresno is California’s fifth-largest city, trailing only Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego, and sits roughly in the geographic center of the state, within a few hours’ drive of Yosemite and the coast.

Agriculture and emerging tech sector

Fresno County’s agricultural output reached about $8.1 billion in 2022, with products shipped to more than 90 countries, Tangipa said. The county produced roughly 197,000 tons of peaches, compared with about 25,000 tons grown in Georgia, often nicknamed the Peach State. California also grows about three-quarters of the oranges produced in the U.S., the majority from the San Joaquin Valley.

Beyond agriculture, Fresno State and the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego launched the F3i Supercomputing Center this summer in partnership with F3 Innovate, an effort Tangipa pointed to as evidence the region is positioning itself in advanced technology alongside its farming base.

Crime and community

Tangipa credited Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and local law enforcement for a drop in violent crime, noting the city recorded 22 homicides last year — the lowest total since 1974.

He also pointed to Fresno State’s role in giving the city a college-town atmosphere, with the Bulldogs having joined the Pac-12 this year, and to the region’s lakes as a local alternative to beach destinations.

Tangipa, who has described himself as the youngest legislator in the state Assembly, said his own path from financial hardship to elected office reflects the opportunities he believes Fresno continues to offer young families moving within California.