Been meaning to ask this. I relocated for work and Median household income is $127,732, which feels pretty solid for the area. The median home value here is around $463,300, which is pretty steep. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
6 upvotes
15 Replies
Elizabeth White
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 51, moved here 15 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in South and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The pet-friendliness situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Charlotte, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
34 upvotes
Kinsley F.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely challenging and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
23 upvotes
Mary R.
nah I disagree
22 upvotes
Colton Gomez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
22 upvotes
Paisley Morris
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
No regrets on my end..
21 upvotes
Chloe B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 39, moved here 4 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in East and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for families. underrated vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Charlotte, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
20 upvotes
raised_addison76
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (South) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
19 upvotes
Evan Young
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from Charlotte for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly 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:**
engineering is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. West 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. Limited shopping options. Dating scene is rough. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
18 upvotes
oaklandliving2024
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
14 upvotes
Larry J.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
9 upvotes
Jennifer M.
great question, following
8 upvotes
Maya Evans
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 12 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
7 upvotes
Oliver K.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Atlanta about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is challenging.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
minneapolispapa2020
Moved here from Charlotte about 8 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to food scene but Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
true_aiden80
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 8 years. Moved from Austin for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have desert landscapes 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. Limited public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
All Countries
