Hey folks, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Average temperature is around 53--F, so expect cold winters. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. What do you all think? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
27 upvotes
24 Replies
Virginia K.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
38 upvotes
Lydia M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
35 upvotes
Wyatt Harris
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 12 years. Moved from Dallas for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is solid - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are hit or miss. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Winters are long and cold. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Victoria
lol so true
29 upvotes
Colton Davis
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 13 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Santiago Scott
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 34, moved here 15 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in South and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The cultural scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Nashville, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K 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.
26 upvotes
Addison M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
Declan Morales
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
25 upvotes
Amelia James
The food scene here is average. Tons of great craft beer places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
25 upvotes
Isaac R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 50, moved here 4 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in North and East, 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 underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The healthcare situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Seattle, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$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.
24 upvotes
Valentina Foster
underrated comment
23 upvotes
Matthew L.
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Everett
noted, appreciate it
19 upvotes
Grace Reed
big facts right here
19 upvotes
Ian P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 15 years. Moved from Charlotte for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset schools are solid. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Road conditions need improvement. Bugs and humidity in summer. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Ellie Phillips
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Austin about 12 years ago. The main reasons were school and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are developing, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Elizabeth Jackson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Delilah W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
9 upvotes
Easton G.
I work in retail here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is better than expected. Definitely worth checking out..
9 upvotes
Elena Brooks
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely better than expected and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Downtown) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
9 upvotes
Peyton C.
I've lived in Highland for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- The public transit scene is tough
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Benjamin C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 4 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is improving.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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