I'm a college student here and The unemployment rate is 1.6%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $639,800, which is pretty steep. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Thoughts? The food scene here is surprisingly good. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The suburbs are where most families end up. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The city has invested a lot in new development. Property taxes are high but you get good services. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
8 upvotes
13 Replies
Carter Ross
great question, following
32 upvotes
Hazel Jimenez
I work in hospitality here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is improving. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Naomi
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Oak Park area are average. Kids love it here.
30 upvotes
Ruby Hughes
Bought a house here in 2021 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
30 upvotes
Amelia W.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
Zoey C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
28 upvotes
Melanie
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Korean places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
22 upvotes
Julia Y.
accurate
18 upvotes
Nora Campbell
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in legal. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
11 upvotes
Sadie
not my experience at all
11 upvotes
Hazel R.
I've lived in Riverside for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- The cultural scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Winters are long and cold
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
aurora_chef
Bought a house here in 2022 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
2 upvotes
Audrey Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
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