Why I chose Emmitsburg over bigger cities

Evelyn Gray Mar 14, 2025

preach

20 upvotes

Liam Wright Feb 23, 2025

Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Riverside for 13 years. Moved from Austin for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up significantly 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:**
hospitality is strong here. marketing 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:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. Riverside schools are surprisingly good. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And cost of living can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.

15 upvotes

Aaliyah R. Mar 22, 2025

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. healthcare used to be much competitive but now it's underrated.

14 upvotes