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Kevin S.
qa
How is the nightlife in Tustin?
Hey, I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
7 upvotes
14 Replies
Katherine G.
I've lived in West for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The weather scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The weather scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Helen P.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Korean places. I love the pace of life here.
38 upvotes
Lucas Moore
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 42, moved here 1 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Westside and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The public transit situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for young professionals. solid 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 San Francisco, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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, 42, moved here 1 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Westside and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The public transit situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for young professionals. solid 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 San Francisco, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
35 upvotes
Evan
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
29 upvotes
Kathleen C.
Bought a house here in 2021 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
25 upvotes
Brielle T.
yeah no that's not right
23 upvotes
Zoey Gray
I've lived in Midtown for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The dating scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The dating scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
greyson_living
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 3 years ago. The main reasons were family and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. No regrets on my end..
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 3 years ago. The main reasons were family and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. No regrets on my end..
11 upvotes
Stephanie R.
great question, following
10 upvotes
Asher Miller
accurate
9 upvotes
Lydia
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much stable but now it's average.
3 upvotes
Ruby Davis
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Maple Ridge. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Thai.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Maple Ridge. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Thai.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
0 upvotes
Amelia W.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Compared to Baltimore it's challenging.
0 upvotes
Dylan Price
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 14 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-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 established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland 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. Limited public transit options. Can feel isolated. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Highland for 14 years. Moved from Minneapolis for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-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 established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland 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. Limited public transit options. Can feel isolated. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
0 upvotes