First post here. Military spouse here. With a population of 35,472, Fair Oaks is a smaller city. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is about average. It's a a smaller city city with about 35,472 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The weather takes some getting used to. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
13 upvotes
5 Replies
Julian E.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
38 upvotes
Russell K.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
29 upvotes
Mateo Davis
it depends on the neighborhood
13 upvotes
Brooks Jones
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
6 upvotes
Hazel Parker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 10 years. Moved from Seattle for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside 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. Urban sprawl is real. Bugs and humidity in summer. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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