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Kennedy Lopez
qa
Is Laguna Beach walkable?
Random thought, It's a a small town city with about 22,777 people.
1 upvotes
14 Replies
Evan Morris
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Houston about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are pricey, gas is solid.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a writer who relocated here from Houston about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are pricey, gas is solid.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Xavier Cooper
seconding this
31 upvotes
Alexander Bennett
accurate
30 upvotes
Kayden Moore
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 5 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 5 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Colton Gonzalez
I'm a teacher and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
28 upvotes
Aiden Wright
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much wild but now it's solid.
23 upvotes
Evelyn Green
Saving this thread
21 upvotes
Hudson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely excellent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Eastside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely excellent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Eastside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
13 upvotes
Adam Jackson
seconding this
7 upvotes
Teresa M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 27, moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in East and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Bugs and humidity in summer
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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 writer, 27, moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in East and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Bugs and humidity in summer
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
7 upvotes
Katherine Phillips
Totally agree!
6 upvotes
sophia_girl
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Thai places. I love the pace of life here.
2 upvotes
Katherine W.
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
1 upvotes
Eugene R.
yeah no that's not right
0 upvotes