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Victoria Murphy
qa
Weekend activities in Waterloo?
Not sure if this has been asked before, but You can expect to pay around $896 for rent here. Has anyone dealt with this?
16 upvotes
15 Replies
Grayson Lewis
glad someone said it
39 upvotes
Jack Roberts
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
Abigail Johnson
thanks for sharing
37 upvotes
Willow Moore
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The housing market is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
31 upvotes
vegaschef2025
Saving this thread
31 upvotes
Katherine Anderson
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much manageable but now it's excellent.
22 upvotes
Delilah B.
been saying this for years
18 upvotes
Jackson Jimenez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 38, moved here 13 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Uptown and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The job market situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 pharmacist, 38, moved here 13 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Uptown and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The job market situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
18 upvotes
Daniel James
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 9 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 9 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
14 upvotes
portland_caroline
Bought a house here in 2018 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
13 upvotes
Miles Long
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 15 years. Moved from LA for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. 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. Eastside schools are pretty good. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Can feel isolated. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Eastside for 15 years. Moved from LA for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. 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. Eastside schools are pretty good. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Can feel isolated. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Hazel
This.
10 upvotes
Delilah Edwards
I've lived in Midtown for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The food scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The food scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
7 upvotes
Jennifer R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 2 years. Moved from Phoenix for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset schools are tough. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Far from beaches/mountains. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Sunset for 2 years. Moved from Phoenix for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Sunset schools are tough. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Far from beaches/mountains. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
Camila Thomas
I've lived in South for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
1 upvotes