It's a a smaller city city with about 29,143 people. Median household income is $104,832, which feels pretty solid for the area. Crime rate is something to consider -East Palo Alto sits at 485.1 per 100K. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Would love some local perspective. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The suburbs are where most families end up. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
12 upvotes
7 Replies
Owen Edwards
hard disagree but ok
35 upvotes
Eleanor Ward
as a local I can confirm
34 upvotes
Bennett Thomas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 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 1-bed in Old Town. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
29 upvotes
Mia B.
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
9 upvotes
Leonardo Wilson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 13 years. Moved from Charlotte for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2018 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. West 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. Bugs and humidity in summer. And traffic 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.
9 upvotes
Maverick Mendoza
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Raleigh it's solid.
7 upvotes
sd_naomi
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Downtown area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
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