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Scarlett Williams living

Raising a family in Isla Vista -thoughts?

I've been here for 8 years and With a population of 13,717, Isla Vista is a small town. Crime rate is something to consider -Isla Vista sits at 114.1 per 100K. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Does this match your experience? Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
14 upvotes

3 Replies

Roman
wish I knew this sooner
24 upvotes
Bella Anderson
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Seattle it's surprisingly good.
12 upvotes
Melanie O.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.

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.
12 upvotes
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