Should I move to Hawaiian Paradise Park or stay in San Diego?
The unemployment rate is 1.1%, which is pretty low. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
5 upvotes
13 Replies
Joshua
lol so true
37 upvotes
Alexis C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 46, moved here 10 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in East and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good airport with direct flights
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The outdoor recreation situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. underrated 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 Dallas, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
36 upvotes
Eleanor Peterson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 29, moved here 9 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Westside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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
cool_kinsley19
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
23 upvotes
Brielle S.
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
23 upvotes
Xavier Ross
hard disagree but ok
22 upvotes
Camila Gomez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 24, moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Springfield and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The job market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. underrated vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
22 upvotes
Kayla R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Westside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
20 upvotes
Harper Castillo
interesting, hadn't considered that
14 upvotes
Mia Walker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Greenfield for 8 years. Moved from Miami for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are pretty good. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited entertainment options. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Ruby C.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Austin it's solid.
13 upvotes
Evan Gonzalez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Sunset. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in government. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
Carolyn M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 3 years. Moved from Miami for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Chain restaurants dominate. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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