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Maria S.
qa
How are the schools in Farmers Branch?
Homes are going for about $322,000 on average. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Am I wrong here?
5 upvotes
27 Replies
Bennett Phillips
I've lived in Riverside for about 10 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 Austin, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The cost of living scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Definitely worth checking out..
it's not perfect but it works for me. 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:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The cost of living scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Definitely worth checking out..
40 upvotes
Walter M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 25, moved here 15 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cost of living situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Phoenix, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
Background: I'm a electrician, 25, moved here 15 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cost of living situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Phoenix, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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
Emmett R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 39, moved here 4 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Atlanta, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 39, moved here 4 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Atlanta, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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
Kayla O.
I work in hospitality here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is average. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
32 upvotes
Adrian Jones
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Joseph Wood
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
Grace H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Cedar Grove. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Cedar Grove. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Luke Carter
yeah no that's not right
28 upvotes
Sadie Martin
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in North area are decent. Kids love it here.
25 upvotes
Parker Nguyen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Atlanta about 2 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are manageable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Atlanta about 2 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are manageable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Feel free to reach out with questions..
25 upvotes
Jonathan Nguyen
yeah no that's not right
23 upvotes
Jack
Totally agree!
23 upvotes
Jaxon Wilson
Came here for weather and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The food scene is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
20 upvotes
Ruby D.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from San Francisco about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is solid.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm a contractor who relocated here from San Francisco about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is solid.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
19 upvotes
Anna Kim
hard disagree but ok
16 upvotes
James Cooper
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
16 upvotes
Noah S.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 12 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
I've been here 12 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Ariana Rogers
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Houston about 2 years ago. The main reasons were school and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Houston about 2 years ago. The main reasons were school and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Happy to answer more specific questions..
14 upvotes
Silas Ramos
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Highland area are average. Kids love it here.
13 upvotes
Mackenzie Clark
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Charlotte about 12 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Charlotte about 12 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
12 upvotes
atl_luna
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 9 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
11 upvotes
Claire
nah I disagree
7 upvotes
Nathan Sanders
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in government. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in government. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
6 upvotes
Claire Ortiz
I'm a sales manager and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
Isaac Gonzalez
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
2 upvotes
Hannah
spot on
1 upvotes
Sadie C.
hmm interesting perspective
1 upvotes