Curious what people think. With a population of 36,669, La Presa is a smaller city. Average temperature is around 63--F, so the weather is moderate. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The weather takes some getting used to. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
15 upvotes
19 Replies
Levi Parker
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
38 upvotes
Walter R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 32, moved here 13 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Riverside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Can feel isolated
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Charlotte, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K 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.
32 upvotes
Grayson Gonzalez
hard disagree but ok
31 upvotes
Clara Torres
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Aubrey
Bought a house here in 2019 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
27 upvotes
Ethan
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
24 upvotes
Daniel M.
+1
23 upvotes
Clara
100%
22 upvotes
Katherine G.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Portland about 3 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- Decent public transit for the size
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are reasonable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Gabriel
interesting, hadn't considered that
14 upvotes
Dominic K.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. No regrets on my end..
11 upvotes
Nathan Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 41, moved here 10 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Lakewood and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Property taxes are high
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Portland, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K 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.
11 upvotes
Isabelle J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in education. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
11 upvotes
Ariana Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 48, moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Highland and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for couples. average vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
8 upvotes
living_madeline27
not my experience at all
7 upvotes
Thomas Williams
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Miami about 9 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Lots of new development happening
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is excellent.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
6 upvotes
Sofia Cooper
I've lived in Fairview for about 12 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 Phoenix, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- The healthcare scene is average
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
6 upvotes
Xavier Reed
underrated comment
3 upvotes
local_levi50
I work in construction here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is underrated. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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