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Sofia Price moving

Moving to El Monte with kids -good idea?

The city has invested a lot in new development. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
50 upvotes

28 Replies

Christian C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.

I've been here 9 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is excellent.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Definitely worth checking out..
38 upvotes
Easton Sanchez
100%
38 upvotes
Skylar Wood
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Greenfield for 13 years. Moved from LA for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.

**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. construction 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 improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And cost of living can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
35 upvotes
Julia M.
noted, appreciate it
35 upvotes
Caleb Cruz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.

I've been here 10 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is pretty good.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Ryan Howard
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 11 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to housing market but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
32 upvotes
Christian Long
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
31 upvotes
Catherine B.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a project manager who relocated here from Tampa about 12 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and a job opportunity.

Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options

Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Dating scene is rough

Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is improving.

Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Hope this helps!.
25 upvotes
Mateo Garcia
preach
25 upvotes
Roman Cooper
yeah no that's not right
23 upvotes
Camila M.
this is the way
23 upvotes
Bennett Sanchez
yeah no that's not right
22 upvotes
Thomas E.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Midtown for 7 years. Moved from Miami for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. manufacturing 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's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown 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. Winters are long and cold. Nightlife is limited. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
thomas_lover
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.

I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is solid.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
19 upvotes
Kennedy Anderson
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
19 upvotes
Nova
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
18 upvotes
Parker Torres
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.

I've been here 3 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is average.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Leo Williams
I've lived in South for about 15 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 San Francisco, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- The housing market scene is hit or miss

The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Winters are long and cold

Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
16 upvotes
Josiah Hernandez
underrated comment
12 upvotes
Jameson Nguyen
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
9 upvotes
Hudson Gonzalez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.

I've been here 9 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is decent.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Sofia C.
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The housing market is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
7 upvotes
Oliver A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.

Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in government. If you're in education you might struggle.

People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Southern.

It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Greyson Thompson
preach
5 upvotes
Sadie Peterson
I've lived in North for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Strong sense of community
- The job market scene is decent

The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not very walkable outside downtown

Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
cool_quinn38
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The public transit is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
Maverick Gutierrez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.

I've been here 4 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is pretty good.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Definitely worth checking out..
2 upvotes
Natalie R.
thanks for sharing
0 upvotes
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