Random thought, The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Should I be concerned? The suburbs are where most families end up.
2 upvotes
25 Replies
Savannah Smith
literally same
40 upvotes
river_zoe29
glad someone said it
36 upvotes
Cora
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 10 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Sadie Nguyen
Can confirm, been here 12 years.
34 upvotes
Michael H.
good to know, thanks
32 upvotes
Margaret R.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
30 upvotes
Maverick Lewis
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
29 upvotes
Jack Howard
Bought a house here in 2023 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone about the same since then.
26 upvotes
Leah Scott
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 3 years. Moved from LA for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. legal 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Fairview 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. Property taxes are high. Chain restaurants dominate. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Roman Johnson
interesting, hadn't considered that
25 upvotes
Jean P.
Totally agree!
22 upvotes
Xavier R.
I'm a lawyer and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
20 upvotes
Grayson Taylor
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
urban_avery84
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
Riley Robinson
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Dallas it's challenging.
16 upvotes
Katherine J.
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
Noah D.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 6 years. Moved from Austin for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2019 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have national forests 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 underrated. 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. Bugs and humidity in summer. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Arianna Diaz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 7 years. Moved from Baltimore for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2017 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. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is average - we have state parks 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 improving. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Limited high-paying job options. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Santiago Mendoza
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 8 years. Moved from Tampa for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. legal 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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 challenging. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Far from beaches/mountains. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Addison Y.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Phoenix it's underrated.
11 upvotes
Mateo
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Mackenzie Green
spot on
7 upvotes
Steven J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 48, moved here 10 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in South and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The pet-friendliness situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Dallas, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
4 upvotes
Mackenzie Rodriguez
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The safety is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
3 upvotes
Stella Scott
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 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 3-bed in East. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
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