Thinking about relocating to The Villages from Las Vegas
OK so It's a a smaller city city with about 82,108 people. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Should I be concerned?
15 upvotes
22 Replies
Levi Thomas
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
Marie P.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The public transit is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Victoria W.
yeah no that's not right
38 upvotes
Declan Sanders
seconding this
35 upvotes
Vivian T.
not my experience at all
34 upvotes
Dylan Nguyen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Fairview. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in construction. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Isaac Mendoza
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
29 upvotes
Robert Gray
I've been living here for 6 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The nightlife is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
28 upvotes
Sadie Phillips
Used to live on the Riverside side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
27 upvotes
Jameson N.
couldn't agree more
23 upvotes
Hudson Gonzalez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 44, moved here 6 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in East and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$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.
20 upvotes
austin_waylon
it depends on the neighborhood
15 upvotes
Delilah
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 35, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Highland and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The pet-friendliness situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
15 upvotes
Cameron Bennett
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. No regrets on my end..
14 upvotes
Aaliyah Myers
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
14 upvotes
orlando_dominic
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much manageable but now it's underrated.
12 upvotes
Stella Torres
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City 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 Pine Hills. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Definitely worth checking out..
12 upvotes
Aaliyah W.
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The cost of living is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
6 upvotes
Michael Cox
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
5 upvotes
Josiah
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
orlandodude2024
I work in hospitality here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is improving. No regrets on my end..
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