Should I move to Fountain Valley or stay in New York?
Born and raised here. You can expect to pay around $2,507 for rent here. It's a a smaller city city with about 56,358 people. Homes are going for about $1,018,600 on average. Household incomes average around $111,797 in Fountain Valley. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What are your go-to spots? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
9 upvotes
24 Replies
Elizabeth S.
seconding this
40 upvotes
Aaron M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 6 years. Moved from Raleigh for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. consulting 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 underrated - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South 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. Rising rent and home prices. Limited high-paying job options. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
boston_levi
thanks for sharing
39 upvotes
Katherine C.
great question, following
38 upvotes
Ezra Rivera
This.
35 upvotes
Isaiah Morris
as a local I can confirm
29 upvotes
Valentina
wish I knew this sooner
27 upvotes
Gianna
literally same
24 upvotes
urban_john46
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
23 upvotes
Autumn Roberts
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
23 upvotes
Austin K.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
22 upvotes
sacramento_greyson
I've lived in Riverside 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 Seattle, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- The housing market scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Winters are long and cold
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
22 upvotes
Skylar
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 food scene. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
21 upvotes
Lillian Hughes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 5 years. Moved from Boston for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Lakewood schools are better than expected. 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. Limited shopping options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Oliver Adams
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 11 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
17 upvotes
Xavier Lopez
preach
16 upvotes
David Davis
this is the way
15 upvotes
Brielle Hughes
this is the way
13 upvotes
Leah
Bought a house here in 2015 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone about the same since then.
11 upvotes
Mary W.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
7 upvotes
phoenix_melanie
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
7 upvotes
Josiah Evans
preach
6 upvotes
Eva Wright
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Midtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in marketing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
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