I work in engineering and Rent is about $902/month for a decent place. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, which is pretty low. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The suburbs are where most families end up. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
25 upvotes
17 Replies
Logan
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
40 upvotes
Adeline Morris
hmm interesting perspective
34 upvotes
Mateo Mendoza
yep
31 upvotes
Debra K.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
30 upvotes
Weston Hill
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 33, moved here 12 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Downtown and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The school system situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K 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.
26 upvotes
Jack F.
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much developing but now it's excellent.
26 upvotes
Ryan Lopez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Pittsburgh it's pretty good.
25 upvotes
Allison Reyes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 32, moved here 2 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Oak Park and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for remote workers. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K 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.
21 upvotes
Judith J.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 1 years. Moved from LA for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are underrated. 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. Dating scene is rough. Limited entertainment options. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Charlotte Roberts
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone about the same since then.
15 upvotes
Leah M.
hmm interesting perspective
13 upvotes
Olivia Mendoza
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in finance. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Sarah
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Dallas it's improving.
9 upvotes
Eleanor Nguyen
yeah no that's not right
9 upvotes
Julian Reyes
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much pricey but now it's underrated.
8 upvotes
Gianna Sanders
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Tampa about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are growing, gas is average.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Hope this helps!.
3 upvotes
houstonheart2024
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.
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