OK so I'm a 25-year-old contractor and It's a a mid-size city city with about 275K people. The median home value here is around $697,400, which is pretty steep. Household incomes average around $105,173 in Chula Vista. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much.
58 upvotes
27 Replies
Ellie Martinez
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much wild but now it's challenging.
40 upvotes
Angel Hughes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 5 years. Moved from New York for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2015 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:**
finance is strong here. construction 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 was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is surprisingly 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. Highland 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Serenity D.
glad someone said it
39 upvotes
Addison Bennett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 54, moved here 1 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Old Town and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The pet-friendliness situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
37 upvotes
Rylee Wright
facts
37 upvotes
Clara Castillo
same here
33 upvotes
Allison Martin
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 11 years. Moved from Atlanta for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. manufacturing 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 exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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 hit or miss. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Limited shopping options. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Axel Rivera
Used to live on the East side, now on the Fairview side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
31 upvotes
Ruby N.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 6 years. Moved from Denver for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. 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 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. finance 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:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. Lakewood schools are solid. 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. Urban sprawl is real. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Camila R.
Totally agree!
27 upvotes
Violet Castillo
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Genesis E.
hmm interesting perspective
27 upvotes
Hunter E.
bump
26 upvotes
Levi R.
seconding this
25 upvotes
Ariana
preach
21 upvotes
Theodore Ross
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 31, moved here 3 years ago from New York. I've lived in Springfield and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Can feel isolated
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
19 upvotes
Nicholas
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from LA about 1 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are stable, gas is improving.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Hope this helps!.
19 upvotes
Lillian Gomez
accurate
18 upvotes
Gloria H.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Nicholas Edwards
Can confirm, been here 1 years.
15 upvotes
real_austin18
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in real estate. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Isaac Smith
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
13 upvotes
Peyton K.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Austin about 8 years ago. The main reasons were weather and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
11 upvotes
Robert Sanders
I've lived in Sunset for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
Declan A.
glad someone said it
4 upvotes
Aaron T.
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
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