San Clemente quality of life -am I missing something?
Curious what people think. I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Rent is about $2,398/month for a decent place. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Am I wrong here?
23 upvotes
13 Replies
Xavier Ross
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
39 upvotes
maverick_chef
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in East area are improving. Kids love it here.
38 upvotes
Roman C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Anna Rodriguez
Bought a house here in 2022 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
35 upvotes
Lillian Campbell
following this thread
33 upvotes
Ruby Reed
interesting, hadn't considered that
18 upvotes
Autumn Watson
honestly same experience here
18 upvotes
Colton Murphy
yep
17 upvotes
Isabelle Walker
Moved here from Seattle about 14 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to school system but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
12 upvotes
Bella
I'm a HR manager and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
12 upvotes
James M.
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
11 upvotes
Nevaeh Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 41, moved here 10 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The traffic situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
5 upvotes
Olivia L.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely solid and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Sunset) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene 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.
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