Hey, I'm originally from Baltimore and Median household income is $150,840, which feels pretty solid for the area. Rent is about $2,959/month for a decent place. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Should I be concerned? The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
27 upvotes
14 Replies
Gabriel A.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The cultural scene is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
38 upvotes
Mateo T.
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
35 upvotes
Maverick Bennett
spot on
27 upvotes
Leah
noted, appreciate it
23 upvotes
Anna
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in North area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
22 upvotes
Theodore J.
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
22 upvotes
Genesis
I've lived in Riverside for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- The cost of living scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Victoria Hughes
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in North. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
19 upvotes
Zoe R.
seconding this
12 upvotes
Sofia Myers
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
10 upvotes
Logan
Totally agree!
8 upvotes
Mark H.
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
7 upvotes
Santiago
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 52, moved here 12 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Meadowbrook and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The dating scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Chicago, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
6 upvotes
Miles Mitchell
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
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