Rent is about $2,425/month for a decent place. It's a a small town city with about 5,491 people. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What do you all think? Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
12 upvotes
9 Replies
Bennett Cook
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from New York 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 Meadowbrook. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
35 upvotes
Alice
great question, following
30 upvotes
minneapolisgirl2023
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 7 years. Moved from Austin for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. marketing 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:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have hiking trails 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 decent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
26 upvotes
Luna Watson
I'm a contractor and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Clara
great question, following
16 upvotes
minneapolis_asher
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is food scene. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
12 upvotes
Alyssa P.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Atlanta it's improving.
7 upvotes
Donald L.
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
6 upvotes
Cora H.
I've lived in Old Town for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Hope this helps!.
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