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Caleb Cooper
living
San Rafael quality of life -am I missing something?
Longtime lurker here, Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Is this normal for San Rafael?
12 upvotes
16 Replies
Walter M.
I've lived in West for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- The walkability scene is improving
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Urban sprawl is real
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- The walkability scene is improving
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Urban sprawl is real
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
40 upvotes
Matthew Taylor
100%
37 upvotes
cool_lily69
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 2 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 2 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
31 upvotes
Kaylee Myers
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The housing market is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Gianna Sanders
exactly what I was thinking
27 upvotes
Declan L.
bump
23 upvotes
Aaliyah W.
bump
19 upvotes
Daniel R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 4 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 4 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Adrian L.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 11 years. Moved from Portland for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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 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. Can feel isolated. Limited shopping options. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Highland for 11 years. Moved from Portland for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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 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. Can feel isolated. Limited shopping options. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Anna Reyes
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 5 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 5 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
13 upvotes
Jace Ward
facts
12 upvotes
Marie M.
great question, following
11 upvotes
Harper J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
Katherine A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
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 Westside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
happy_samuel70
haha yep pretty much
3 upvotes
Samuel Brown
big facts right here
1 upvotes