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Alice
living
Is Riverside a good place to live?
Alright, My family moved here when I was a kid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Let me know your thoughts.
16 upvotes
23 Replies
Paisley Cooper
Came here for school and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The cultural scene is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
40 upvotes
Jack H.
nah I disagree
39 upvotes
Nolan Stewart
100%
39 upvotes
Alexa Ruiz
I've lived in Midtown for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Affordable housing options
- The cultural scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Affordable housing options
- The cultural scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
38 upvotes
James N.
hard disagree but ok
37 upvotes
Ian T.
Used to live on the East side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
36 upvotes
emma_living
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Austin about 6 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. No regrets on my end..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Austin about 6 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. No regrets on my end..
26 upvotes
nora_walker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 9 years. Moved from Minneapolis for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. 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:**
hospitality is strong here. retail 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are average. 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. Limited public transit options. Limited high-paying job options. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Midtown for 9 years. Moved from Minneapolis for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. 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:**
hospitality is strong here. retail 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are average. 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. Limited public transit options. Limited high-paying job options. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
Clara Cox
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
Kayden E.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 6 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 6 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
21 upvotes
Eva Jimenez
Saving this thread
20 upvotes
Luna M.
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
13 upvotes
Ella G.
following this thread
13 upvotes
Cameron Ortiz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
12 upvotes
Emmett Murphy
Can confirm, been here 8 years.
10 upvotes
Vivian Smith
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Isaiah Adams
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
8 upvotes
Easton Sanchez
bump
8 upvotes
Skylar Ortiz
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely improving and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely improving and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
4 upvotes
henry_dude
big facts right here
4 upvotes
Joseph Allen
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
4 upvotes
Liam Ross
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
2 upvotes
Madeline Campbell
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
0 upvotes