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Sarah Green
living
Anyone else love living in Murrieta?
Hello, I've been here for 3 years and Am I wrong here? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
40 upvotes
14 Replies
Jonathan K.
interesting, hadn't considered that
34 upvotes
Wyatt Young
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 11 years. Moved from Boston for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. Lakewood schools are better than expected. 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. Limited public transit options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Lakewood for 11 years. Moved from Boston for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. Lakewood schools are better than expected. 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. Limited public transit options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Lillian D.
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The dating scene is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
29 upvotes
Andrew P.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 3 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 3 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
28 upvotes
Violet K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 30, moved here 13 years ago from New York. I've lived in Old Town and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for young professionals. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 New York, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
Background: I'm a project manager, 30, moved here 13 years ago from New York. I've lived in Old Town and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for young professionals. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 New York, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
27 upvotes
sf_nicholas
I've lived in Highland for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by housing market. 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 food scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by housing market. 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 food scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Mackenzie White
same here
24 upvotes
Jacob Rogers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Midtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Midtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Eva Bennett
I've lived in Fairview for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Four distinct seasons
- The food scene scene is tough
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Definitely worth checking out..
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Four distinct seasons
- The food scene scene is tough
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Definitely worth checking out..
21 upvotes
Reagan R.
bump
19 upvotes
Leonardo W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 15 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 15 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Cora K.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from San Francisco about 9 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are reasonable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from San Francisco about 9 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are reasonable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Sarah H.
Moved here from San Diego about 11 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to nightlife but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
5 upvotes
Ruth H.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 2 years. Moved from Houston for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 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:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Dating scene is rough. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in East for 2 years. Moved from Houston for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 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:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Dating scene is rough. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes