Hey everyone, Born and raised here. Household incomes average around $134,735 in San Clemente. The unemployment rate is 3.2%, which is pretty low. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
10 upvotes
24 Replies
Aria Wood
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 2 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
Josiah
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 14 years. Moved from Tampa for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2016 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Meadowbrook schools are pretty good. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Bugs and humidity in summer. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Nathan C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 10 years. Moved from Austin for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2024 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. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Old Town schools are excellent. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Property taxes are high. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Josiah Hall
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
34 upvotes
Everett Sanders
as a local I can confirm
31 upvotes
sf_nicholas
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Houston about 13 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is average.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
29 upvotes
kayden_rider
been saying this for years
28 upvotes
Joshua M.
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
27 upvotes
Everly R.
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
25 upvotes
zoey_chef
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
22 upvotes
Skylar Gray
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely underrated and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Sunset) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife 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.
19 upvotes
Eleanor P.
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone about the same since then.
19 upvotes
Mateo L.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely underrated and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Limited entertainment options.
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.
17 upvotes
Riley Ward
Saving this thread
13 upvotes
John Kelly
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
12 upvotes
Audrey
accurate
11 upvotes
Thomas Ross
100%
9 upvotes
Ava Cox
big facts right here
6 upvotes
Carson Rogers
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 13 years. Moved from Boston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2016 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is average - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Bugs and humidity in summer. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
6 upvotes
Kayden Walker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Midtown. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in education. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Southern.
No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Thomas C.
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much developing but now it's decent.
3 upvotes
Ethan Phillips
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 12 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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