Alright, I'm originally from Salt Lake City and Rent is about $1,301/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $248,400, which is actually reasonable. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Thanks in advance! There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
46 upvotes
27 Replies
Wyatt Perez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Houston about 7 years ago. The main reasons were weather and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Aaron Parker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 11 years. Moved from Austin for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
construction 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 average - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are challenging. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Silas Ramos
accurate
39 upvotes
Delilah
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 27, moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The food scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
36 upvotes
Ashley S.
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great sushi places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
35 upvotes
Hunter Ruiz
Came here for retirement and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The dating scene is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
35 upvotes
Madelyn Myers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in real estate. 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: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
30 upvotes
Daniel Green
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor recreation is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Ezra B.
Came here for weather and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The walkability is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Jacob
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely excellent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Sunset) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
28 upvotes
Cynthia M.
I've been living here for 7 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The housing market is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
27 upvotes
Eliana Davis
I've lived in North for about 2 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 Denver, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
- The pet-friendliness scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Jayden Ward
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Meadowbrook area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
24 upvotes
Eva Wilson
honestly same experience here
23 upvotes
Bennett Rivera
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 27, moved here 12 years ago from Denver. I've lived in The Heights and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The weather situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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
proud_genesis48
haha yep pretty much
20 upvotes
Henry Phillips
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in East area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
13 upvotes
Henry Jimenez
glad someone said it
13 upvotes
charlotte_robert
Saving this thread
12 upvotes
desert_everly48
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it's been a really good experience overall.
12 upvotes
Elizabeth Robinson
I've lived in East for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
- The walkability scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
12 upvotes
Mateo L.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Tampa about 8 years ago. The main reasons were work and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are competitive, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Anna S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Bennett
yep
9 upvotes
Aaliyah Reed
noted, appreciate it
3 upvotes
Emily
Moved here from Denver about 4 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
Benjamin Reyes
I work in real estate here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is average. Hope this helps!.
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