I've been here for 5 years and With a population of 26,467, Venice is a smaller city. The median home value here is around $381,400, which seems about average. Rent is about $1,591/month for a decent place. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The suburbs are where most families end up. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
16 upvotes
30 Replies
Julie B.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 2 years. Moved from Houston for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. North schools are surprisingly 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Summers can be brutally hot. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Gianna Jackson
lol so true
38 upvotes
Joseph Smith
facts
36 upvotes
Landon Edwards
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Addison Cox
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great BBQ places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
31 upvotes
Jacob A.
thanks for sharing
23 upvotes
Waylon
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The pet-friendliness is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Cora Hughes
noted, appreciate it
23 upvotes
Piper H.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely tough and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
20 upvotes
Robert Lopez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 24, moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Riverside and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The community vibe situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K 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.
19 upvotes
Vivian D.
not my experience at all
18 upvotes
austindude2024
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
18 upvotes
Henry Lopez
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much manageable but now it's better than expected.
17 upvotes
Allison Green
hard disagree but ok
17 upvotes
Camila G.
yep
17 upvotes
Liam M.
Saving this thread
15 upvotes
Amelia Ramirez
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The nightlife is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Jace Myers
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much growing but now it's solid.
13 upvotes
Aaliyah Jimenez
been saying this for years
13 upvotes
miamiliving2020
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
9 upvotes
Lillian Sanders
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Charlotte about 14 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Strong job market in several industries
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Ava Ross
+1
5 upvotes
Eliana G.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 2 years. Moved from New York for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. real estate 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 genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are challenging. 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 shopping options. Limited entertainment options. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
5 upvotes
Michael Morales
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely improving and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
4 upvotes
Julian Hall
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely better than expected and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (The Heights) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
4 upvotes
Abigail
Saving this thread
3 upvotes
atl_asher
Saving this thread
2 upvotes
Roman Scott
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 58, moved here 12 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Meadowbrook and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The traffic situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. hit or miss 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 Houston, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K 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.
1 upvotes
Grace
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Thai places. it was the best decision I ever made.
1 upvotes
Anna Scott
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
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