It's a a mid-size city city with about 104K people. The weather takes some getting used to. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. What do you all think? Any help is appreciated. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
37 upvotes
22 Replies
Vincent A.
100%
40 upvotes
Valentina R.
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Meadowbrook side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
39 upvotes
Kayden Walker
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
34 upvotes
Grayson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 47, moved here 13 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Greenfield and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cultural scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Portland, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
31 upvotes
Eli Ward
literally same
31 upvotes
Genesis Carter
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 9 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
31 upvotes
Lisa F.
good to know, thanks
30 upvotes
Chloe Nelson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in finance. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
Levi Thomas
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Dallas about 13 years ago. The main reasons were school and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are developing, gas is average.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Definitely worth checking out..
25 upvotes
Nicholas Green
facts
25 upvotes
Leah Myers
underrated comment
23 upvotes
Brooklyn L.
Bought a house here in 2024 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone about the same since then.
21 upvotes
loving_wesley74
same here
18 upvotes
Audrey Adams
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 10 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into running, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
15 upvotes
Aubrey
I've lived in Downtown for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The public transit scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
15 upvotes
Dylan Anderson
spot on
13 upvotes
urban_melanie64
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 3 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Kayden Gutierrez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 48, moved here 2 years ago from New York. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The dating scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for young professionals. decent vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 New York, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
9 upvotes
Adam C.
accurate
9 upvotes
Robert M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 14 years. Moved from Boston for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have beaches 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 hit or miss. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Far from beaches/mountains. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
dclife2022
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 3 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
8 upvotes
Andrea M.
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much wild but now it's hit or miss.
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