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Everett Adams
living
Huntington Beach quality of life — am I missing something?
Curious what people think. Average temperature is around 62°F, so the weather
10 upvotes
21 Replies
Ryan A.
spot on
37 upvotes
Mia Castillo
facts
36 upvotes
Timothy R.
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 7 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Uptown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K 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.
Background: I'm a nurse, 28, moved here 7 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Uptown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K 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.
35 upvotes
Maverick Scott
preach
35 upvotes
Arianna Jackson
bump
30 upvotes
Benjamin Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in construction. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in construction. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
30 upvotes
Delilah
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is challenging in most areas.
28 upvotes
Grayson White
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Old Town. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like seafood.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Old Town. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like seafood.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
26 upvotes
Isabelle K.
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
24 upvotes
Declan W.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
24 upvotes
Aiden Jimenez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 40, moved here 1 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Uptown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Miami, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K 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.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 40, moved here 1 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Uptown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Miami, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K 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.
19 upvotes
Jackson Phillips
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Portland about 1 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is average.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Portland about 1 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is average.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Easton Ramirez
bump
17 upvotes
James Chavez
I've lived in West for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Active local events and festivals
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Active local events and festivals
- The food scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
Isabella R.
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
14 upvotes
Julian Reyes
I work in manufacturing here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is underrated. Hope this helps!.
12 upvotes
Nevaeh Brown
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
12 upvotes
portlandheart2022
nah I disagree
12 upvotes
levi_kid
yep
10 upvotes
Ariana Watson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
Paisley Young
big facts right here
3 upvotes