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Anthony M.
qa
Healthcare options in Virginia Beach?
Random thought, You can expect to pay around $1,649 for rent here. Worth the trade-offs?
21 upvotes
21 Replies
Leah B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 49, moved here 2 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The dating scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K 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.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 49, moved here 2 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The dating scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K 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.
40 upvotes
Charlotte T.
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
40 upvotes
Stella Mitchell
I've lived in Westside for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Affordable housing options
- The cultural scene scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Affordable housing options
- The cultural scene scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
37 upvotes
Benjamin Parker
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Jameson Brooks
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
Grace Bailey
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely excellent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Westside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely excellent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Westside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
30 upvotes
austin_ellie
Came here for work and stayed because it was the best decision I ever made. The housing market is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Avery J.
underrated comment
25 upvotes
Jack Rivera
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 1 years. Moved from LA for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is improving - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge schools are decent. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited entertainment options. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 1 years. Moved from LA for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is improving - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge schools are decent. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited entertainment options. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
river_amelia17
bump
20 upvotes
Adeline
glad someone said it
18 upvotes
austin_david
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
17 upvotes
Isla Sanchez
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great sushi places. I love the pace of life here.
16 upvotes
Addison Richardson
exactly what I was thinking
16 upvotes
Gianna Collins
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 9 years. Moved from Portland for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Highland 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Highland for 9 years. Moved from Portland for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Highland 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Christian M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
14 upvotes
Catherine T.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Boston 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 Uptown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Sara P.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is traffic. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
8 upvotes
local_grace35
I'm a accountant and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
5 upvotes
true_brielle73
glad someone said it
1 upvotes
Elena W.
Can confirm, been here 5 years.
1 upvotes