Been meaning to ask this. I'm a teacher here and It's a a smaller city city with about 65,514 people. With a population of 65,514, Victoria is a smaller city. Rent is about $1,170/month for a decent place. Average temperature is around 71--F, so it's warm year-round. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The suburbs are where most families end up. What do you all think? The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
14 upvotes
12 Replies
Lillian Turner
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
40 upvotes
Josiah Sanders
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely better than expected and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (South) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit 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.
38 upvotes
Hazel Adams
I've lived in Downtown for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
- The nightlife scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Samuel Lewis
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
30 upvotes
Miles Clark
Can confirm, been here 5 years.
26 upvotes
Isaac G.
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The nightlife is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
Benjamin C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Fairview. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
Isaac Allen
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 7 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
13 upvotes
Hailey
literally same
11 upvotes
Roman White
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Thai places. I love the pace of life here.
8 upvotes
Aaliyah Lopez
it depends on the neighborhood
6 upvotes
Savannah Clark
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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