My family moved here when I was a kid. Average temperature is around 67--F, so the weather is moderate. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
5 upvotes
15 Replies
Bella Jimenez
haha yep pretty much
40 upvotes
Caleb Morgan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 4 years ago from New York. I've lived in Riverside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- North: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from New York, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
36 upvotes
Waylon Kelly
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is excellent in most areas.
35 upvotes
Melanie M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in construction. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Nolan Gonzalez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 2 years. Moved from Baltimore for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is improving - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are decent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited high-paying job options. Homeless population growing downtown. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Genesis Martinez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
31 upvotes
Dominic C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 29, moved here 10 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Greenfield and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Denver, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
23 upvotes
columbusliving2024
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 50, moved here 9 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Westside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The weather situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Highland: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Diego, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
22 upvotes
Robert Clark
yeah no that's not right
19 upvotes
Easton C.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The housing market is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
17 upvotes
Aubrey Phillips
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 5 years. Moved from New York for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is tough - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are challenging. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Chain restaurants dominate. Far from beaches/mountains. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
Elena Edwards
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 10 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
9 upvotes
Delilah Reyes
interesting, hadn't considered that
6 upvotes
Gabriel Johnson
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
1 upvotes
chill_ariana20
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Asian.
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