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raised_gabriella7
best-worst
Unpopular opinion about Spring Valley CDP (San Diego County)
Random thought, Median household income is $104,808, which feels pretty solid
28 upvotes
14 Replies
Emmett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 57, moved here 14 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Eastside and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The food scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K 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 electrician, 57, moved here 14 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Eastside and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The food scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K 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.
39 upvotes
Caleb Carter
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
32 upvotes
Sarah Gonzalez
I'm a nurse and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
32 upvotes
Eli Cooper
as a local I can confirm
30 upvotes
Jaxon Clark
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 6 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Oak Park schools are pretty good. 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. Property taxes are high. Chain restaurants dominate. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Oak Park for 6 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Oak Park schools are pretty good. 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. Property taxes are high. Chain restaurants dominate. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Lydia C.
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The cultural scene is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
23 upvotes
Joseph
wish I knew this sooner
18 upvotes
Jose Long
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
16 upvotes
Hudson
hmm interesting perspective
14 upvotes
dcnative2021
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
10 upvotes
Eli Brooks
not my experience at all
6 upvotes
Camila R.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
6 upvotes
Kenneth M.
Can confirm, been here 8 years.
5 upvotes
Lydia Jones
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
4 upvotes