Hi all, I'm a teacher here and Median household income is $163,725, which feels pretty solid for the area. The median home value here is around $741,100, which is pretty steep. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
27 upvotes
8 Replies
Michael C.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
37 upvotes
Ian G.
Bought a house here in 2024 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
27 upvotes
Christian A.
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 traffic is genuinely pretty good and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
23 upvotes
Avery
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Sunset area are average. Kids love it here.
22 upvotes
Mateo M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Minneapolis it's tough.
20 upvotes
Dorothy W.
Saving this thread
15 upvotes
jeremiah_mama
Came here for school and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The weather is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
6 upvotes
Sophie Miller
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Nashville it's better than expected.
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