Been meaning to ask this. Poverty rate is 7.3%, which is pretty low. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Does this match your experience? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
15 upvotes
30 Replies
Charles G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 24, moved here 9 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Westside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The food scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Nashville, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
40 upvotes
Daniel Allen
Saving this thread
40 upvotes
aurora_guy
wish I knew this sooner
39 upvotes
Zachary R.
following this thread
37 upvotes
Roman G.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Aurora Alvarez
This.
35 upvotes
Cheryl T.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Boston about 10 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Close to major attractions
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is underrated.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Waylon
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
31 upvotes
Genesis M.
noted, appreciate it
31 upvotes
jeremiah_soul
Moved here from Portland about 1 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to safety but Hope this helps!.
31 upvotes
Aria Carter
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 3 years. Moved from Portland for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. 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 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset 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. Urban sprawl is real. Bugs and humidity in summer. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
30 upvotes
Leo Hall
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
zoey_kid
interesting, hadn't considered that
29 upvotes
Ella J.
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
27 upvotes
Isabelle T.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 12 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
26 upvotes
Andrew White
not my experience at all
24 upvotes
Emmett Lopez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 29, moved here 11 years ago from LA. I've lived in Fairview and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 LA, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
23 upvotes
Quinn C.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The pet-friendliness is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
20 upvotes
Wyatt Rogers
yep
20 upvotes
Evelyn
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The community vibe is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
15 upvotes
Benjamin Alvarez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely solid and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Fairview) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
13 upvotes
Abigail Richardson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
dcwalker2021
I've lived in South for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- The walkability scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
13 upvotes
Ryan C.
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The weather is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Rylee G.
yeah no that's not right
12 upvotes
Oliver Ortiz
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in Riverside area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Amelia Morgan
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
7 upvotes
Sofia Mitchell
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great sushi places. it's been a really good experience overall.
3 upvotes
Andrew M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
2 upvotes
Lucy Jones
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.
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