Random thought, Military spouse here. The median home value here is around $946,300, which is pretty steep. It's a a smaller city city with about 92,415 people. Median household income is $136,071, which feels pretty solid for the area. The suburbs are where most families end up. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
28 upvotes
7 Replies
Cooper Thomas
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 Tampa for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2015 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have ski resorts 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 average. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not very walkable outside downtown. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
35 upvotes
Quinn Jones
not my experience at all
29 upvotes
Noah H.
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
25 upvotes
Melanie O.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to LA it's excellent.
21 upvotes
Brielle Morris
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in North. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Definitely worth checking out..
21 upvotes
Carson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is underrated in most areas.
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