As a California girl who wound up in Texas, I can say that every large city here has big problems with mexican illegals & gangs. If you turn on the news at night it's worse than California.
There are a few nice places here, but given a choice I would probably go to Montana or Wyoming. That is, if you don't need income. :)
You can make money in those more remote places......just become a doctor, dentist, lawyer etc.