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Olivia W. housing

Cost of living reality check — Irvine

First post here. I grew up here but left for a while. With a population of 308K, Irvine is a mid-size city. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Worth the trade-offs? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
2 upvotes

9 Replies

Leah Hernandez
Bought a house here in 2017 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
38 upvotes
John
glad someone said it
37 upvotes
Leonardo Price
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Westside) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.

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.
36 upvotes
Xavier Ruiz
big facts right here
22 upvotes
Julia W.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
14 upvotes
Alexa Mendoza
underrated comment
12 upvotes
Wesley J.
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
9 upvotes
Jordan Adams
as a local I can confirm
7 upvotes
Everett Evans
noted, appreciate it
1 upvotes
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