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Andrew Walker
housing
Is San Carlos still affordable?
Anyone else feel this way? Crime rate is something to consider -San Car
0 upvotes
14 Replies
Benjamin G.
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
40 upvotes
Nolan C.
interesting, hadn't considered that
39 upvotes
Sadie Foster
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much competitive but now it's challenging.
37 upvotes
Marie B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 45, moved here 11 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The outdoor recreation situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for young professionals. tough vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Houston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 45, moved here 11 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The outdoor recreation situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for young professionals. tough vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Houston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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
David H.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 3 years. Moved from Raleigh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. tech 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:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is average - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are tough. 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. Road conditions need improvement. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in West for 3 years. Moved from Raleigh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. tech 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:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is average - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are tough. 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. Road conditions need improvement. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
Owen Phillips
literally same
11 upvotes
Axel C.
Bought a house here in 2019 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
10 upvotes
Mateo Nelson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
10 upvotes
Josiah Young
seconding this
9 upvotes
Noah Nguyen
Moved here from Nashville about 4 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to public transit but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
8 upvotes
Jordan R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 12 years. Moved from New York for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same 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:**
hospitality is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Limited shopping options. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Fairview for 12 years. Moved from New York for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same 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:**
hospitality is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Limited shopping options. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
8 upvotes
Aiden L.
yep
7 upvotes
Cooper Hill
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
angel_chef
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is decent in most areas.
1 upvotes