Best and worst neighborhoods in Catalina Foothills
Hey everyone, Homes are going for about $604,100 on average. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Worth the trade-offs? Appreciate any input.
17 upvotes
22 Replies
Allison King
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
40 upvotes
cool_christian73
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
40 upvotes
Noah Morales
yep
37 upvotes
Isabelle Morales
Bought a house here in 2022 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
34 upvotes
Isaac Jimenez
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
33 upvotes
Levi Lopez
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Uptown area are underrated. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
Allison Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Dallas 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 Highland. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
26 upvotes
Waylon Richardson
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is pet-friendliness. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
22 upvotes
Aurora Robinson
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Aiden James
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
20 upvotes
real_kai78
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Phoenix about 6 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are affordable, gas is improving.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Lily P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 12 years. Moved from Dallas for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2024 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have hiking trails 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 underrated. 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. Dating scene is rough. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
17 upvotes
Janet H.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
17 upvotes
Genesis Martinez
Moved here from Portland about 9 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to traffic but Definitely worth checking out..
17 upvotes
Jack Young
Totally agree!
16 upvotes
Eliana Thompson
Moved here from Denver about 14 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to housing market but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Vivian Bennett
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
9 upvotes
desert_maverick72
I've been living here for 15 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The cost of living is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
9 upvotes
Claire Sanders
haha yep pretty much
7 upvotes
Owen Bennett
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The weather is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
2 upvotes
Lucy Thompson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 6 years. Moved from Denver for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2022 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. consulting 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:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North 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. Winters are long and cold. Bugs and humidity in summer. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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