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Lucas Hall
jobs
Job market in Santa Cruz for tech?
Alright, Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
12 upvotes
23 Replies
Wyatt Scott
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Maple Ridge area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
39 upvotes
Joseph J.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great seafood places. it was the best decision I ever made.
36 upvotes
Thomas Wilson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Violet Hall
big facts right here
34 upvotes
Delilah Brooks
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Chicago it's underrated.
33 upvotes
Greyson Kelly
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
32 upvotes
Kai Garcia
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
31 upvotes
Everett Anderson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is decent in most areas.
30 upvotes
boston_aurora
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Austin about 7 years ago. The main reasons were weather and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is tough.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Austin about 7 years ago. The main reasons were weather and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is tough.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Good luck with whatever you decide..
27 upvotes
true_nevaeh8
preach
25 upvotes
Stephen C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in construction. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in construction. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Hope this helps!.
25 upvotes
Savannah Cooper
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 6 years. Moved from Nashville for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2015 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable 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. Fairview 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. Limited shopping options. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Fairview for 6 years. Moved from Nashville for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2015 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable 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. Fairview 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. Limited shopping options. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
20 upvotes
Robert P.
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
19 upvotes
Roman Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in retail. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in retail. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Aria
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
16 upvotes
Chloe K.
following this thread
14 upvotes
Joshua Alvarez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Chicago it's average.
14 upvotes
Evan Young
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
Catherine J.
good to know, thanks
13 upvotes
Ruth P.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Eastside 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 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Logan Y.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
2 upvotes
Nicholas Ortiz
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much competitive but now it's decent.
1 upvotes
Naomi Kelly
wish I knew this sooner
0 upvotes