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Harold D.
best-worst
Top 5 things I love about Novato
Hello, The city has invested a lot in new development. Let me know your thoughts.
28 upvotes
11 Replies
Addison Collins
Moved here from Minneapolis about 9 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to traffic but Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
James O.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 35, moved here 5 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Pine Hills and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for families. tough 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 Atlanta, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K 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.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 35, moved here 5 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Pine Hills and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for families. tough 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 Atlanta, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K 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.
38 upvotes
Piper Taylor
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 25, moved here 5 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in West and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Nashville, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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 data analyst, 25, moved here 5 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in West and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Nashville, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
32 upvotes
milwaukeenative2023
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
23 upvotes
mesalover2020
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 40, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Westside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Phoenix, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K 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 social worker, 40, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Westside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Phoenix, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K 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.
23 upvotes
tucson_sarah
I've lived in North for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The dating scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The dating scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
19 upvotes
Julian Carter
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 12 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 12 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Alan C.
facts
18 upvotes
Ariana E.
I've lived in Westside for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The cost of living scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The cost of living scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
17 upvotes
Jose R.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
16 upvotes
Ariana
big facts right here
6 upvotes