Alright, We're a young couple and Rent is about $2,124/month for a decent place. Crime rate is something to consider — Fullerton sits at 266.1 per 100K. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
39 upvotes
11 Replies
Jaxon J.
underrated comment
39 upvotes
Emily Garcia
hard disagree but ok
38 upvotes
Dylan
spot on
36 upvotes
jaxwalker2024
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
33 upvotes
Leonardo W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 28, moved here 7 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Old Town and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The nightlife situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
32 upvotes
Aria
Used to live on the Meadowbrook side, now on the Midtown side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
29 upvotes
Genesis Carter
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Oak Park. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in education. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Definitely worth checking out..
29 upvotes
Randy H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
23 upvotes
Cameron Kim
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 55, moved here 12 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Sunset and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. excellent vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Chicago, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K 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.
20 upvotes
Kaylee Sanders
hard disagree but ok
18 upvotes
Natalie
I'm a nurse and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
All Countries
