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Landon Long
living
What I wish I knew before living in Paradise
Any advice would be great. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know whe
39 upvotes
22 Replies
Jeremiah Ramirez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 35, moved here 4 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for singles. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 San Diego, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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 electrician, 35, moved here 4 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for singles. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 San Diego, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
39 upvotes
Abigail Nelson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 27, moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in North and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K 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 data analyst, 27, moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in North and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K 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.
39 upvotes
Cora Kim
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
38 upvotes
Emmett Bailey
spot on
37 upvotes
Mia W.
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Korean places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
37 upvotes
Nolan Turner
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much established but now it's decent.
31 upvotes
Victoria G.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is solid in most areas.
31 upvotes
Owen Phillips
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in Pine Hills area are average. Kids love it here.
30 upvotes
Carson Sanchez
Moved here last year, no regrets.
29 upvotes
Cameron King
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Portland about 9 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are competitive, gas is underrated.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Portland about 9 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are competitive, gas is underrated.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Good luck with whatever you decide..
27 upvotes
Ryan H.
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
23 upvotes
Emilia
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Chicago about 12 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good airport with direct flights
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are affordable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Chicago about 12 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good airport with direct flights
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are affordable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
David G.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
19 upvotes
Owen Wright
it depends on the neighborhood
19 upvotes
raised_mason11
I work in real estate here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Gabriel Ross
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely better than expected and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. school system 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.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely better than expected and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. school system 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.
17 upvotes
Brielle C.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely underrated and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Limited shopping 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.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely underrated and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Limited shopping 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.
17 upvotes
Andrew Cooper
exactly what I was thinking
11 upvotes
Waylon Foster
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The food scene is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
7 upvotes
Christopher G.
This.
6 upvotes
Easton Ruiz
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely tough and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Midtown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely tough and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Midtown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
6 upvotes
Mateo Ruiz
hard disagree but ok
5 upvotes