Alright, My partner and I are With a population of 968K, Austin is a major city. Poverty rate is 8.1%, which is pretty low. Crime rate is something to consider — Austin sits at 400.9 per 100K. You can expect to pay around $1,655 for rent here. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Thanks for reading. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
74 upvotes
28 Replies
Wesley Hall
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Definitely worth checking out..
38 upvotes
Dominic Lopez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 3 years. Moved from LA for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. education 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:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have mountains 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 excellent. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Can feel isolated. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Jack K.
good to know, thanks
36 upvotes
oaklandfan2024
I'm a lawyer and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
33 upvotes
Genesis
lol so true
33 upvotes
Katherine
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Miami it's decent.
31 upvotes
Nolan W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely excellent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Fairview) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
27 upvotes
Abigail Harris
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Connor Turner
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 3 years. Moved from LA for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland schools are better than expected. 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. Nightlife is limited. Urban sprawl is real. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
26 upvotes
Axel Martin
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Asian places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
26 upvotes
Paisley Lewis
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Oak Park area are improving. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
avery_heart
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Sunset area are decent. Kids love it here.
22 upvotes
Alexander Ortiz
This.
20 upvotes
Samantha R.
This.
17 upvotes
Henry S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in construction. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Colton Stewart
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
15 upvotes
Silas B.
Moved here from Phoenix about 2 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but Happy to answer more specific questions..
15 upvotes
Wesley L.
bump
14 upvotes
dallasheart2020
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Minneapolis about 15 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are reasonable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Olivia Kim
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely tough and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Eastside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
13 upvotes
Santiago Castillo
noted, appreciate it
9 upvotes
Adam James
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 9 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are tough. 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 public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
Harper R.
I'm a data analyst and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
7 upvotes
Emmett
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great sushi places. it's been a really good experience overall.
6 upvotes
sfheart2023
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Midtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
6 upvotes
Steven C.
Bought a house here in 2022 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
5 upvotes
Everly Sanchez
I've lived in Sunset for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The pet-friendliness scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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