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Wyatt Wright
living
Pros and cons of Torrance after 13 years
Hey everyone, Average temperature is around 61°F, so the weather is moderate. Has anyone dealt with this?
17 upvotes
10 Replies
Jack K.
noted, appreciate it
33 upvotes
Roman Wright
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Highland area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
31 upvotes
mesalife2025
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 55, moved here 7 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Oak Park and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The cost of living situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Austin, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K 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 software engineer, 55, moved here 7 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Oak Park and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The cost of living situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Austin, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K 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.
28 upvotes
Alexander R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in consulting. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in consulting. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
James Moore
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 14 years. Moved from LA for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. real estate 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. Maple Ridge schools are hit or miss. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 14 years. Moved from LA for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. real estate 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. Maple Ridge schools are hit or miss. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Wyatt Long
following this thread
13 upvotes
Helen M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 47, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Uptown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for remote workers. better than expected 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 Houston, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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 real estate agent, 47, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Uptown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for remote workers. better than expected 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 Houston, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
12 upvotes
Mason
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
11 upvotes
Jameson Watson
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The food scene is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
5 upvotes
Piper Cook
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
4 upvotes