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Luna C.
jobs
Starting a business in Vallejo?
Been meaning to ask this. I'm a college student here and Household incomes aver
35 upvotes
19 Replies
Waylon B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Mia Turner
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great BBQ places. it exceeded my expectations.
36 upvotes
Axel C.
not my experience at all
35 upvotes
nathan_native
facts
35 upvotes
Ruby Richardson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 53, moved here 9 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Pine Hills and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Limited shopping options
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for retirees. average 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 Denver, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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, 53, moved here 9 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Pine Hills and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Limited shopping options
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for retirees. average 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 Denver, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
34 upvotes
Mason
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 13 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 13 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Arianna Smith
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 9 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Cedar Grove 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 9 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Autumn
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 8 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 8 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Maple Ridge side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Victoria C.
it depends on the neighborhood
26 upvotes
Elizabeth H.
exactly what I was thinking
25 upvotes
Noah J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
Allison Morales
Came here for family and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The healthcare is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
23 upvotes
Eli D.
honestly same experience here
23 upvotes
Willow Torres
I've lived in Oak Park for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Chicago, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights
- The walkability scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. Happy to answer more specific questions..
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Chicago, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights
- The walkability scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. Happy to answer more specific questions..
23 upvotes
Aaliyah Reyes
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Caleb Edwards
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely tough and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Riverside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely tough and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Riverside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
11 upvotes
Kai S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 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 2-bed in Midtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Julie M.
I've lived in Fairview for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- The cultural scene scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- The cultural scene scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Hudson Nelson
this is the way
4 upvotes