So, My family moved here when I was a kid. With a population of 13,834, Valencia West is a small town. Poverty rate is 7.9%, which is pretty low. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. Does this match your experience?
0 upvotes
14 Replies
Andrea R.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
39 upvotes
Amelia W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 31, moved here 8 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Lakewood and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The housing market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K 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.
37 upvotes
Jace Cooper
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
36 upvotes
Aubrey
I've lived in North for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The community vibe scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Noah Sanchez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in tech. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
30 upvotes
Charles H.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Chicago it's hit or miss.
27 upvotes
Lawrence B.
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
21 upvotes
Mateo G.
accurate
17 upvotes
Wyatt
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Boston it's decent.
16 upvotes
Ryan Hughes
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in South area are underrated. Kids love it here.
14 upvotes
Colton
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor recreation is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Henry Campbell
I work in retail here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Feel free to reach out with questions..
9 upvotes
Anna Walker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 34, moved here 8 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Riverside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The outdoor recreation situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
7 upvotes
Cora C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 2 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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