College student at the local college, graduating soon. The food scene in Campbell is honestly incredible.
Home prices averaging is {home_feel}. The weather averaging 59F year-round is {weather_feel}.
The parks system here is underrated. The food scene in Campbell is honestly incredible.
Am I being unrealistic?
70 upvotes
35 Replies
Lily Hernandez
Born here, left for 10 years, came back. Downtown has improved dramatically since I first moved here.. The city has changed a lot.
50 upvotes
Janice E.
As someone who lives in Berryessa, I feel like {city} is becoming more expensive without getting better.. That said, the weather is love-it-or-hate-it.
49 upvotes
Nancy A.
Let me give you the perspective nobody asked for but everyone needs.
I've lived in West San Jose, Evergreen, and currently in Santana Row area. Each one feels like a different city honestly.
Rent comparison:
- West San Jose: /mo for a 1-bed
- Evergreen: about /mo
- Santana Row area: /mo but great
The school system in {hood} is actually {adj}.. The key is finding your neighborhood. Once you do, San Jose really clicks. DM me if you want more details.
48 upvotes
James Flores
This is the way.
47 upvotes
Jordan Foster
I'll give you a thorough answer since I've been through this exact situation.
I moved to Los Gatos from Detroit about 7 years ago. Initially I was overwhelmed. But after settling in, I feel like {city} is becoming more expensive without getting better..
A few things I'd recommend:
- Check out Los Gatos and West San Jose for housing
- Get a car if you don't have one - transit is limited
- Join local Facebook/Reddit groups for your neighborhood
The biggest adjustment was transit. People here are friendlier than I expected coming from {other}.. Overall I'd give San Jose a 7/10 for singles.
47 upvotes
Aaron Cox
Alright, I'm going to write the reply I wish someone had written for me when I was researching San Jose.
Background: 44, retiree, moved from Denver 8 years ago for quality of life. Currently in West San Jose.
**Housing:**
The market is great right now. We went with West San Jose because great school district. Paid /mo starting out, now at /mo. If I could do it again, I'd look at Rose Garden - it's growing and the value is better.
**Work:**
logistics jobs are growing here. I was worried coming from Denver but the market is better than expected. Salary-wise, expect competitive for the cost of living.
**Social Life:**
This was my biggest worry. First 15 months were tough. Then I found my people through a board game night. Now I have a solid group. San Jose people are reserved at first once you break through.
**Day to Day:**
- Groceries: manageable
- Traffic: not as bad as people say
- Dining out: amazing variety
- Entertainment: solid local scene
**Would I move here again?**
Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year.. For couples, I'd give it a 8/10.
Feel free to DM me with specific questions - happy to help fellow newcomers.
46 upvotes
Greyson A.
Great question. Here's my honest take after 3 years:
The good:
- Active community events
- Diverse neighborhoods
- Strong arts and culture scene
The not-so-good:
- Limited public transit
- Tourist crowds
The community in {hood} is really tight-knit.. I'd say for singles, San Jose is pretty good.
42 upvotes
Isabelle F.
I'd highly recommend checking out Milpitas. Grocery prices are creeping up but still manageable.. Plus the food options around there are solid.
40 upvotes
Sarah C.
Blossom Valley local here. Cost of living is {col_feel} compared to where I came from.. If you need specific recommendations feel free to ask.
40 upvotes
dallas_adam
Yep.
40 upvotes
Silas J.
Renter's perspective: I could find cheaper but love the neighborhood. I'm in Cambrian and it's excellent. Definitely shop around though.
38 upvotes
Rebecca W.
You're not wrong.
35 upvotes
Violet M.
My experience has been different actually. I found that I keep discovering new spots even after {yr} years.. Maybe it depends on which part of San Jose you're in.
34 upvotes
Anna Gutierrez
Food industry person here. The restaurant scene in San Jose is great. The community in {hood} is really tight-knit..
34 upvotes
Josiah R.
Bump.
33 upvotes
Jacqueline O.
OK since this keeps coming up, here's my definitive San Jose guide from someone who's been here way too long.
**Neighborhoods ranked (my opinion):**
Tier 1 (if you can afford it):
- Cupertino: safest area, good schools
- Cambrian: up-and-coming, artsy vibe
Tier 2 (best value):
- West San Jose: best value in the city
- Silver Creek: newer development, modern amenities
Avoid (unless you know what you're doing):
- I won't name names but do your research on anything significantly below market rate
**Cost Reality Check:**
- 1-bed decent area: /mo
- 2-bed decent area: /mo
- Groceries for 2: /mo
- Car insurance: decent compared to national avg
- Utilities: /mo average
**The Honest Truth:**
Downtown has improved dramatically since I first moved here.. San Jose is up-and-coming but it's not for everyone. If you value quiet over diversity, you'll love it. If it's the other way around, maybe consider Houston.
Good luck!
31 upvotes
Addison W.
I'd highly recommend checking out Santana Row area. I keep discovering new spots even after {yr} years.. Plus the food options around there are pretty good.
28 upvotes
Valentina G.
As someone who lives in West San Jose, Grocery prices are creeping up but still manageable.. That said, parking can be a real pain.
24 upvotes
Ian
Haven't experienced that personally.
24 upvotes
Abigail R.
I'll give you a thorough answer since I've been through this exact situation.
I moved to Silver Creek from Denver about 9 years ago. Initially it felt a bit lonely. But after settling in, The parks system here is underrated..
A few things I'd recommend:
- Check out Silver Creek and Santana Row area for housing
- Explore beyond the popular neighborhoods
- Download the local transit app even if you drive
The biggest adjustment was traffic. The food scene in {hood} is honestly incredible.. Overall I'd give San Jose a 7/10 for families.
22 upvotes
Jace Stewart
Alright, I'm going to write the reply I wish someone had written for me when I was researching San Jose.
Background: 42, family with kids, moved from Raleigh 3 years ago for family. Currently in Berryessa.
**Housing:**
The market is hit or miss right now. We went with Berryessa because great school district. Paid /mo starting out, now at /mo. If I could do it again, I'd look at Milpitas - it's pricey and the value is better.
**Work:**
construction jobs are tough here. I was worried coming from Raleigh but the market is better than expected. Salary-wise, expect competitive for the cost of living.
**Social Life:**
This was my biggest worry. First 13 months were tough. Then I found my people through a board game night. Now I have a solid group. San Jose people are reserved at first once you break through.
**Day to Day:**
- Groceries: manageable
- Traffic: honestly terrible
- Dining out: surprisingly excellent
- Entertainment: could be better
**Would I move here again?**
Grocery prices are creeping up but still manageable.. For singles, I'd give it a 9/10.
Feel free to DM me with specific questions - happy to help fellow newcomers.
21 upvotes
Isabelle G.
Not to be negative but the city is losing character. I still like living here overall though. Just keeping it real.
18 upvotes
Aiden Clark
I'll give you a thorough answer since I've been through this exact situation.
I moved to Willow Glen from Austin about 2 years ago. Initially I missed home a lot. But after settling in, I keep discovering new spots even after {yr} years..
A few things I'd recommend:
- Check out Willow Glen and Evergreen for housing
- Join local Facebook/Reddit groups for your neighborhood
- Download the local transit app even if you drive
The biggest adjustment was job market. The community in {hood} is really tight-knit.. Overall I'd give San Jose a 7/10 for retirees.
16 upvotes
Ryan Ruiz
I'll give you a thorough answer since I've been through this exact situation.
I moved to Santana Row area from Columbus about 4 years ago. Initially it felt a bit lonely. But after settling in, Cost of living is {col_feel} compared to where I came from..
A few things I'd recommend:
- Check out Santana Row area and Evergreen for housing
- Join local Facebook/Reddit groups for your neighborhood
- Explore beyond the popular neighborhoods
The biggest adjustment was weather. The parks system here is underrated.. Overall I'd give San Jose a 9/10 for students.
16 upvotes
Nora Roberts
My experience has been different actually. I found that Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year.. Maybe it depends on which part of San Jose you're in.
11 upvotes
Aubrey P.
Food industry person here. The restaurant scene in San Jose is excellent. The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now..
11 upvotes
Andrew R.
Noted.
10 upvotes
Cora W.
Gonna share a detailed perspective since most replies are pretty surface-level.
I'm a retiree in Cupertino. Been here since 2020. Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year..
Neighborhood-wise, Cupertino has really transformed in the past few years. Rose Garden is the up-and-coming spot right now. Berryessa is where I'd look if budget is a concern.
Job market for tech: underrated. For nonprofit: quiet.
The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now.
DM me if you want more details.
9 upvotes
Sarah Moore
Couldn't have said it better.
7 upvotes
Julia Moore
+1
4 upvotes
Mateo Kim
As someone who lives in Santa Clara, Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year.. That said, it's not for everyone.
4 upvotes
Alice
OK since this keeps coming up, here's my definitive San Jose guide from someone who's been here way too long.
**Neighborhoods ranked (my opinion):**
Tier 1 (if you can afford it):
- Rose Garden: walkable, great restaurants, young crowd
- West San Jose: affordable with character
Tier 2 (best value):
- Santana Row area: great community feel
- Evergreen: suburban feel, big yards
Avoid (unless you know what you're doing):
- I won't name names but do your research on anything significantly below market rate
**Cost Reality Check:**
- 1-bed decent area: /mo
- 2-bed decent area: /mo
- Groceries for 2: /mo
- Car insurance: hit or miss compared to national avg
- Utilities: /mo average
**The Honest Truth:**
I feel like {city} is becoming more expensive without getting better.. San Jose is established but it's not for everyone. If you value community over nightlife, you'll love it. If it's the other way around, maybe consider Columbus.
Hope that helps!
4 upvotes
Rylee Ramos
Born here, left for 10 years, came back. I don't understand why more people don't talk about {hood}.. The city has changed a lot.
3 upvotes
Jameson
Great question. Here's my honest take after 11 years:
The good:
- Active community events
- Pet-friendly city
- Good farmers markets
The not-so-good:
- Property taxes
- Tourist crowds
Cost of living is {col_feel} compared to where I came from.. I'd say for young professionals, San Jose is great. Feel free to ask specifics.
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