Just moved here 16 months ago and The median home value here is around $598,000, which is pretty steep. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Am I overthinking this? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
13 upvotes
9 Replies
Roger P.
preach
37 upvotes
Maverick Jimenez
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Asian places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
33 upvotes
Delilah Flores
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
30 upvotes
Xavier Reed
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 1 years. Moved from Nashville for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Riverside schools are excellent. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
26 upvotes
Willow Wright
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
23 upvotes
Zoey Allen
yep
18 upvotes
Brooklyn Thompson
I work in retail here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is challenging. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Brooks Taylor
honestly same experience here
10 upvotes
Henry S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Pine Hills. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
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