Alright, I'm a teacher here and Median household income is $77,886, which feels about average for the area. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
3 upvotes
15 Replies
Adam Jimenez
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor recreation is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
40 upvotes
Everett Taylor
I've lived in Riverside for about 2 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 New York, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Close to major attractions
- The dating scene scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Dating scene is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Definitely worth checking out..
37 upvotes
Landon G.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
34 upvotes
Sarah H.
Bought a house here in 2016 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
29 upvotes
Lydia Roberts
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much affordable but now it's improving.
23 upvotes
Easton Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
19 upvotes
Peyton Castillo
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
17 upvotes
Grace Green
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
15 upvotes
austin_skylar
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 28, moved here 2 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in East and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for retirees. excellent 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 Phoenix, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
14 upvotes
Nevaeh Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 35, moved here 5 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Old Town and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Seattle, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K 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.
10 upvotes
Elijah Wilson
I've lived in Old Town for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The cost of living scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Greyson S.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 10 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is average.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Hope this helps!.
10 upvotes
Angel A.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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