Considering Orange vs Minneapolis — help me decide
Hi all, I'm a teacher here and Household incomes average around $116,945 in Orange. It's a a mid-size city city with about 139K people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What are your go-to spots?
53 upvotes
26 Replies
Logan G.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
austin_evelyn
this is the way
36 upvotes
charlotte_owen
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is decent in most areas.
35 upvotes
tampagirl2020
Bought a house here in 2020 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
32 upvotes
Jaxon P.
same here
30 upvotes
Ruby Kim
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
26 upvotes
Ellie
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from LA about 7 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Close to major attractions
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Isabella Campbell
lol so true
24 upvotes
Hailey Parker
accurate
24 upvotes
jacob_mama
Bought a house here in 2023 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
21 upvotes
Kevin R.
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
20 upvotes
gabriel_life
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone about the same since then.
20 upvotes
Madelyn N.
+1
17 upvotes
Gabriel Jackson
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
14 upvotes
Xavier Wood
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
13 upvotes
Mackenzie Gutierrez
I've been living here for 6 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The weather is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
James Chavez
+1
12 upvotes
Thomas C.
wish I knew this sooner
12 upvotes
Bobby A.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
5 upvotes
Nova Cooper
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in The Heights. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Emilia W.
seconding this
4 upvotes
Willow N.
noted, appreciate it
2 upvotes
Luna M.
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
2 upvotes
Lydia Sanchez
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. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
2 upvotes
axel_papa
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 Pittsburgh for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. Riverside 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. Limited high-paying job options. Chain restaurants dominate. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Naomi Kim
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Pine Hills. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Korean.
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