I'm single, late 40s, and Crime rate is something to consider -Victoria sits at 513.5 per 100K. With a population of 65,514, Victoria is a smaller city. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
6 upvotes
29 Replies
Henry C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 51, moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in East and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The dating scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K 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.
39 upvotes
Zoe
I've lived in Midtown for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- The cultural scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
38 upvotes
Naomi Mendoza
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 28, moved here 2 years ago from New York. I've lived in Oak Park and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 New York, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K 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.
37 upvotes
Eli
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Austin about 2 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Summers can be brutally hot
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are pricey, gas is decent.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Good luck with whatever you decide..
34 upvotes
Thomas Ruiz
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
33 upvotes
Ariana K.
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
33 upvotes
Joseph Mitchell
Totally agree!
33 upvotes
Isla Lopez
bump
32 upvotes
Sarah Brown
preach
31 upvotes
Carson Turner
honestly same experience here
28 upvotes
zoe_living
bump
27 upvotes
Willow Martin
Used to live on the Lakewood side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
27 upvotes
James M.
same here
26 upvotes
Declan Ramos
Came here for family and stayed because it was the best decision I ever made. The cost of living is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
Carson Torres
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much affordable but now it's pretty good.
23 upvotes
Xavier Wright
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Oak Park area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
Gabriella Nelson
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much pricey but now it's improving.
20 upvotes
Brooklyn
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
18 upvotes
detroit_eli
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 7 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
Kai Brooks
This.
17 upvotes
loving_joseph90
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
17 upvotes
Henry Baker
yep
16 upvotes
Christian
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
12 upvotes
Hunter Price
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 12 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. 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 fishing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
Christian
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
5 upvotes
Oliver Bailey
Came here for cost of living and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The safety is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
3 upvotes
Philip H.
lol so true
2 upvotes
Paisley Nguyen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
1 upvotes
Natalie Rodriguez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore 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 Sunset. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in marketing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
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