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Parker Richardson
best-worst
Top 5 things I love about San Marcos
First post here. I'm a remote worker and Household incomes average around $51,030 in San Marcos.
10 upvotes
14 Replies
Asher
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
39 upvotes
Jace Clark
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 33, moved here 12 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Eastside and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Miami, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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 writer, 33, moved here 12 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Eastside and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Miami, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
37 upvotes
Victoria Castillo
literally same
34 upvotes
Alexa Chavez
yeah no that's not right
32 upvotes
Bennett Sanchez
I've lived in Fairview for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good airport with direct flights
- The walkability scene is improving
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good airport with direct flights
- The walkability scene is improving
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Good luck with whatever you decide..
22 upvotes
urban_isaiah61
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 9 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 9 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
21 upvotes
Robert E.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 41, moved here 5 years ago from New York. I've lived in Highland and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 New York, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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 marketing manager, 41, moved here 5 years ago from New York. I've lived in Highland and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 New York, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
21 upvotes
Kenneth R.
hard disagree but ok
17 upvotes
Gianna W.
Came here for weather and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Lily
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Natalie Rodriguez
Used to live on the North side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
13 upvotes
Bennett Perez
Bought a house here in 2024 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
9 upvotes
wild_violet50
Came here for weather and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor recreation is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
9 upvotes
Hazel Gonzalez
I'm a social worker and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes