I'm originally from Austin and Average temperature is around 52--F, so expect cold winters. With a population of 18,107, Wallingford Center is a small town. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Am I overthinking this? The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The city has invested a lot in new development. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
14 upvotes
13 Replies
Allison W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
Quinn Castillo
facts
33 upvotes
Aaliyah Thompson
spot on
33 upvotes
Aaron P.
wish I knew this sooner
29 upvotes
Christian Hernandez
I work in marketing here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is improving. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Christian W.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Adeline
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
26 upvotes
Easton Watson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 44, moved here 5 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Eastside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for young professionals. average 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 Atlanta, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K 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.
26 upvotes
Isabella Green
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Isabelle Phillips
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (East) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
22 upvotes
Bella Campbell
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
15 upvotes
fresno_jameson
as a local I can confirm
14 upvotes
Theodore S.
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much reasonable but now it's challenging.
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