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Landon
living
Honest thoughts on life in Valley Center
First post here. Average temperature is around 57--F, so the weather is moderate. Would love some local perspective.
1 upvotes
6 Replies
Everly
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 14 years. Moved from Seattle for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are pretty good. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. Limited entertainment options. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Old Town for 14 years. Moved from Seattle for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are pretty good. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. Limited entertainment options. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Benjamin P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore 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 West. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in retail. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in retail. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Cooper Jones
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
27 upvotes
Lydia
I'm a nurse and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Brielle Castillo
this is the way
12 upvotes
Sebastian Wood
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes