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Mia Reed
moving
Moving to Gardena for work -advice?
Longtime lurker here, Military spouse here. It's a a smaller city city with about 59,765 people
5 upvotes
4 Replies
William Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 29, moved here 11 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Westside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Austin, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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 social worker, 29, moved here 11 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Westside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Austin, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
36 upvotes
Abigail D.
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
35 upvotes
Bruce W.
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
30 upvotes
Evelyn Harris
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much stable but now it's decent.
1 upvotes