Rent is about $1,478/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $364,300, which seems about average. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Has anyone dealt with this? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
51 upvotes
29 Replies
Logan Reyes
Moved here last year, no regrets.
40 upvotes
Santiago C.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
39 upvotes
Aaliyah Perez
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
39 upvotes
Jameson Nelson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
38 upvotes
Cooper Price
+1
38 upvotes
Brooklyn W.
Totally agree!
38 upvotes
Aurora Patel
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 11 years. Moved from Charlotte for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - 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. Sunset schools are surprisingly good. 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. Limited entertainment options. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
jace_local
I've been living here for 6 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The dating scene is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
36 upvotes
Bryan L.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is safety. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
35 upvotes
Lucy L.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
33 upvotes
Madelyn N.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
32 upvotes
proud_jack31
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Kaylee Peterson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely improving and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (The Heights) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
31 upvotes
Claire M.
underrated comment
29 upvotes
Gabriel Wilson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 13 years. Moved from San Francisco for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are pretty good. 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. Can feel isolated. Limited shopping options. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
eva_mind
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 5 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Evelyn Evans
wish I knew this sooner
25 upvotes
Caleb Clark
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 30, moved here 11 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Uptown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Limited shopping options
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Denver, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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
Maya Robinson
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
19 upvotes
Anna F.
great question, following
19 upvotes
Benjamin G.
I've lived in Old Town for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The safety scene is tough
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. No regrets on my end..
14 upvotes
Larry J.
not my experience at all
14 upvotes
Kaylee Gutierrez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
Noah S.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 10 years. Moved from LA for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. legal 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 excellent - we have biking trails 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 surprisingly good. 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. Dating scene is rough. Homeless population growing downtown. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Owen
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
6 upvotes
Jonathan Cox
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Atlanta 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 Highland. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
5 upvotes
henry_mama
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Sunset area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
4 upvotes
Avery M.
nah I disagree
2 upvotes
Nova Nguyen
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
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