Hi Julie! I live in Woodland so I may be able to help you out here. West Sac has started to really grow in the past few years, and while there are some questionable neighborhoods, it remains an area that would be a great investment, and in close proximity to downtown Sac if that is an area you may frequent. Woodland has also started to grow in the last few years, and property value has skyrocketed (like the rest of CA), and continues to rise. AS far as communities, West Sac and Wdlnd are quite different. Wdlnd is a small farming town (pop. abt 55K, but rising), but about a 30 minute drive into Sac. It's quiet, but still has many conveniences of the city. As far as raising a family, I would probably prefer Wdlnd over West Sac, but West Sac may be a better investment. Make sense? Please ask if you have any more ?s or if there's anything else I can help with!