Alright, Born and raised here. Average temperature is around 46--F, so expect cold winters. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Would love some local perspective. Appreciate any input. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
4 upvotes
13 Replies
jace_local
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
38 upvotes
Brooklyn Bennett
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 9 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
38 upvotes
Carter H.
honestly same experience here
33 upvotes
Daniel Gonzalez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
32 upvotes
Brooks 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. food scene used to be much affordable but now it's surprisingly good.
28 upvotes
Riley Cook
100%
27 upvotes
Aiden Brown
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely pretty good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Westside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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
Jackson Miller
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
12 upvotes
Bella Chavez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Highland. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in tech. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Kennedy Edwards
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from San Francisco about 6 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Bugs and humidity in summer
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Stephen S.
accurate
5 upvotes
Luke Lee
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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