Honestly, deciding where to live in the U.S. isn't just about housing prices or schools.

You need to consider factors like comfort with English, community presence, safety, and job availability all together.

I hesitated at first. I learned firsthand that making decisions without information leads to regret later.

Starting with the advantages, the biggest one is cost. While the overall cost of living in California is high, Victorville is one of the cities with the lowest living costs in the state. For initial immigrants, keeping housing costs low is crucial during the asset-building phase. This is true as you live there. Reducing housing costs increases savings, and with more savings, you can progress to the next stage faster.

The second advantage is the relatively relaxed pace of life. LA is competitive and fast-paced. Victorville has a slower pace. From a parenting perspective, the school environment is less competitive, and neighborly relationships are more human. This kind of environment helps in finding psychological stability during the early stages of immigration. Plus, there's plenty of space, with houses that have yards, ample parking, and less congested roads. For those coming from Korean cities or LA's Koreatown, this spaciousness can feel strange at first but becomes addictive later.

There are definitely downsides as well. The Korean community infrastructure is lacking. There are far fewer Korean restaurants, Korean markets, Korean tutoring centers, and hospitals that offer services in Korean compared to Koreatown or Garden Grove. This creates inconvenience as you have to travel to the LA area to supplement these needs.

Public transportation is almost nonexistent, making it difficult to live without a car, and there aren't many jobs, leading to long commutes. Many people commute daily to San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, or even LA. The summer heat can also be a shock for immigrants. It's much drier and hotter than summers in Korea, requiring time to adjust.

In conclusion, Victorville is suitable for initial asset formation and quiet settlement for immigrants, and many use it as a stepping stone to move to areas with better infrastructure in the long term. Viewing it as a first or second settlement location in the immigrant's step-by-step migration path is realistic.