Hey, It's a a mid-size city city with about 321K people. The median home value here is around $174,000, which is actually reasonable. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The city has invested a lot in new development. Am I wrong here? Thanks! Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
25 upvotes
24 Replies
Ryan H.
as a local I can confirm
40 upvotes
julia_living
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Savannah Allen
Moved here from LA about 3 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to cultural scene but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Nathan Gutierrez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 7 years. Moved from LA for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland 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. Road conditions need improvement. Dating scene is rough. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Theodore Brooks
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
30 upvotes
Melanie Green
hmm interesting perspective
29 upvotes
Mia M.
Used to live on the South side, now on the Fairview side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
29 upvotes
Lucy K.
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
27 upvotes
Serenity Jimenez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Christian N.
+1
24 upvotes
Landon
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
18 upvotes
Alexander Martin
yeah no that's not right
18 upvotes
Charlotte Rodriguez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely improving and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (East) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
18 upvotes
Robert Rivera
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Eastside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
16 upvotes
native_nicholas3
I've lived in Riverside for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The weather scene is decent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
16 upvotes
Aiden Campbell
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely excellent and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (South) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
16 upvotes
Everly Miller
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much wild but now it's excellent.
13 upvotes
Samuel Cook
seconding this
11 upvotes
Christian
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 25, moved here 9 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Greenfield and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Nashville, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
10 upvotes
Joshua T.
I've been living here for 7 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The food scene is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Wesley Torres
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
9 upvotes
Dominic Reed
haha yep pretty much
6 upvotes
Benjamin Turner
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Atlanta about 4 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Close to major attractions
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
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