Hey everyone, I'm single, late 50s, and Homes are going for about $2,000,001 on average. Crime rate is something to consider -Palo Alto sits at 128.5 per 100K. The median home value here is around $2,000,001, which is pretty steep. Household incomes average around $220,408 in Palo Alto. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Am I overthinking this? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The city has invested a lot in new development. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
21 upvotes
28 Replies
Ella Kelly
this is the way
40 upvotes
Lucas Lopez
+1
39 upvotes
Kennedy Adams
thanks for sharing
38 upvotes
Ruby
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The school system is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
36 upvotes
Declan Cook
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
34 upvotes
atl_silas
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Westside) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit 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.
34 upvotes
Colton Taylor
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Indian places. it's been a really good experience overall.
33 upvotes
portlandchef2021
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 15 years. Moved from Miami for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have rivers 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 average. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Limited high-paying job options. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Colton
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 8 years. Moved from Miami for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2024 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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 excellent. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Sophia Mendoza
100%
27 upvotes
Janice E.
yeah no that's not right
26 upvotes
Chloe B.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely solid and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (West) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. dating 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.
24 upvotes
Ezra
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Angel
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 8 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
16 upvotes
Eli Ramirez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 8 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
Hailey B.
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
15 upvotes
Levi Stewart
I'm a project manager and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
13 upvotes
Violet Gomez
honestly same experience here
13 upvotes
Joseph Rogers
same here
12 upvotes
Alexander Diaz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
Jacob Collins
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
6 upvotes
seattlerunner2022
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 48, moved here 5 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in The Heights and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
5 upvotes
Andrew
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 35, moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in South and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The cultural scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. solid 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 Raleigh, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is growing. 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.
5 upvotes
Abigail Morales
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Tampa about 6 years ago. The main reasons were family and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are manageable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Hope this helps!.
2 upvotes
Noah Bailey
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
1 upvotes
James L.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is challenging in most areas.
1 upvotes
Leo R.
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much stable but now it's surprisingly good.
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