Hey folks, We're a young couple and Household incomes average around $145,625 in Orange. Homes are going for about $466,800 on average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Should I be concerned?
8 upvotes
7 Replies
Thomas Morales
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Oak Park. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Carson Kelly
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
37 upvotes
theodore_runner
not my experience at all
23 upvotes
Camila Gomez
Bought a house here in 2015 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
16 upvotes
Samuel P.
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The walkability is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
10 upvotes
Luca
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Definitely worth checking out..
6 upvotes
Elijah Patel
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 38, moved here 9 years ago from Boston. I've lived in North and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The pet-friendliness situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Boston, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
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