Anyone else feel this way? Military spouse here. Rent is about $3,112/month for a decent place. Homes are going for about $1,180,000 on average. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
20 upvotes
6 Replies
Angel Phillips
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
15 upvotes
Peter M.
not my experience at all
12 upvotes
James
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
11 upvotes
vegas_cooper
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from San Francisco about 14 years ago. The main reasons were work and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Hope this helps!.
7 upvotes
proud_camila95
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Mexican places. I love the pace of life here.
3 upvotes
Nicholas Ortiz
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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