Random thought, I'm single, late 20s, and Homes are going for about $193,200 on average. You can expect to pay around $1,170 for rent here. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. What would you do?
24 upvotes
25 Replies
Owen Rodriguez
exactly what I was thinking
38 upvotes
Cameron Phillips
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 30, moved here 3 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Uptown and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The nightlife situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. surprisingly good 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 Portland, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
36 upvotes
Hazel Gonzalez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Madelyn Wood
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in consulting. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
34 upvotes
Connor
Can confirm, been here 13 years.
33 upvotes
Olivia
hard disagree but ok
31 upvotes
Jaxon Mitchell
Bought a house here in 2024 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
25 upvotes
Audrey Murphy
seconding this
23 upvotes
Elizabeth Gutierrez
Can confirm, been here 8 years.
21 upvotes
Eliana E.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
21 upvotes
Grace Anderson
wish I knew this sooner
21 upvotes
Austin Young
I work in finance here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is solid. Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Valentina K.
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
14 upvotes
Jordan Carter
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 15 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
David Hill
lol so true
9 upvotes
Alexis J.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
8 upvotes
Lucas B.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The job market is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
8 upvotes
Alice Gonzalez
good to know, thanks
8 upvotes
raleighvibes2025
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is decent in most areas.
7 upvotes
Daniel Roberts
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
6 upvotes
Paisley G.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from LA about 9 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Hope this helps!.
6 upvotes
Lucy N.
This.
4 upvotes
Kinsley L.
as a local I can confirm
1 upvotes
Jayden Thomas
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 28, moved here 7 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Sunset and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The job market situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Chicago, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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
Sarah Hughes
I'm a data analyst and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
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