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Audrey Phillips
living
Raising a family in Tustin -thoughts?
Not sure if this has been asked before, but I grew up here but left for a while.
4 upvotes
14 Replies
Patricia T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 40, moved here 7 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Pine Hills and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Can feel isolated
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Miami, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$140K 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 software engineer, 40, moved here 7 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Pine Hills and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Can feel isolated
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Miami, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$140K 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.
40 upvotes
Emma White
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 15 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 15 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
36 upvotes
Ezra R.
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The food scene is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
33 upvotes
Benjamin
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 36, moved here 6 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Lakewood and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally average - 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 housing market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Phoenix, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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 pharmacist, 36, moved here 6 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Lakewood and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally average - 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 housing market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Phoenix, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
30 upvotes
Miles C.
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in Sunset area are tough. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
cincymind2022
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 10 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 10 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
22 upvotes
Cameron R.
I'm a writer and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
16 upvotes
Kevin E.
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Uptown area are tough. Kids love it here.
13 upvotes
Ryan R.
as a local I can confirm
13 upvotes
Xavier Rodriguez
I've lived in The Heights for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Close to major attractions
- The weather scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Close to major attractions
- The weather scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
8 upvotes
Raymond P.
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
7 upvotes
Jose
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Riverside area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
6 upvotes
Natalie
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
3 upvotes
Weston Hernandez
Bought a house here in 2017 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
0 upvotes