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Megan S. jobs

Freelancing from Salinas — experience?

Random thought, Just moved here 4 months ago and Crime rate is something to consider — Salinas sits at 498.3 per 100K. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Any advice would be great.
17 upvotes

5 Replies

luca_runner
bump
26 upvotes
native_chloe55
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
10 upvotes
Lydia
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.

I've been here 7 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's competitive 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 decent.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Good luck with whatever you decide..
5 upvotes
Vivian Howard
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Eastside for 2 years. Moved from San Francisco for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.

**Employment:**
finance is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is decent - 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. Eastside 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. Nightlife is limited. Urban sprawl is real. And housing market can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Sarah Brown
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
2 upvotes
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