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Wesley Smith best-worst

North Highlands is underrated, change my mind

Not sure if this has been asked before, but The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $344,900, which seems about average. Household incomes average around $65,090 in North Highlands. Poverty rate is 15.6%, which is higher than I expected. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The suburbs are where most families end up. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
0 upvotes

23 Replies

Hazel Peterson
literally same
40 upvotes
Brielle Wright
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to Houston it's hit or miss.
37 upvotes
Katherine Thomas
bump
35 upvotes
Wyatt Clark
interesting, hadn't considered that
34 upvotes
Ezekiel Ramirez
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
sunny_lucas44
Bought a house here in 2024 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone about the same since then.
27 upvotes
Sophie L.
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
26 upvotes
Mason Brown
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
22 upvotes
Ezra Adams
facts
21 upvotes
Grace Collins
I work in marketing here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
21 upvotes
Alexa Gomez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value school system, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Old Town) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.

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.
20 upvotes
Jameson Ross
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
17 upvotes
real_madeline21
I'm a teacher and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Aaron C.
I'm a HR manager and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
16 upvotes
Lucy Mitchell
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Riverside for 14 years. Moved from San Diego for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
education is strong here. tech 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:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. 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 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Can feel isolated. And cultural scene can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Alice H.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value school system, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely tough and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Highland) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe 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.
15 upvotes
Isaiah Price
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value traffic, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (West) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.

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.
14 upvotes
Savannah
Can confirm, been here 9 years.
14 upvotes
Chloe Brooks
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a teacher, 37, moved here 1 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Pine Hills and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The traffic situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Austin, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.

**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
12 upvotes
Waylon Torres
haha yep pretty much
11 upvotes
Jacob Castillo
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. Feel free to reach out with questions..
10 upvotes
omahapapa2020
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a lawyer, 29, moved here 13 years ago from New York. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Lots of new development happening
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. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited shopping options
3. The community vibe situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. surprisingly good 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K 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.
9 upvotes
jose_guy
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a chef, 33, moved here 14 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Lakewood and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The public transit situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Austin, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.

**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
6 upvotes
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