First post here. I've been here for 5 years and Crime rate is something to consider -Center sits at 569.2 per 100K. Rent is about $958/month for a decent place. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Any advice would be great. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The suburbs are where most families end up.
14 upvotes
7 Replies
Willow Martinez
honestly same experience here
24 upvotes
Caroline Johnson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
24 upvotes
Elena
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Mia Lopez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
7 upvotes
Miles Long
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much reasonable but now it's surprisingly good.
3 upvotes
Owen Cook
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 34, moved here 14 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Riverside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. decent 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
1 upvotes
genesis_mind
Bought a house here in 2018 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
All Countries
