I'm a teacher here and It's a a smaller city city with about 46,787 people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
30 upvotes
15 Replies
indy_leo
exactly what I was thinking
40 upvotes
Kinsley Harris
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
40 upvotes
Alexa
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely challenging and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Highland) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
39 upvotes
Madeline Cruz
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely improving and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living 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.
34 upvotes
Kai Brown
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
32 upvotes
Leah Lee
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
31 upvotes
Jose Gutierrez
Can confirm, been here 15 years.
29 upvotes
luke_fan
Bought a house here in 2021 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
24 upvotes
Vivian King
+1
23 upvotes
Isla G.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 13 years. Moved from San Diego for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is decent - we have national forests 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 improving. 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. Property taxes are high. Limited entertainment options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Roman W.
great question, following
20 upvotes
Angel Jimenez
spot on
11 upvotes
Paisley Rodriguez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Austin about 15 years ago. The main reasons were family and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Four distinct seasons
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Valentina Hall
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 4 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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