Anyone else feel this way? Been living here since 2018. Rent is about $1,914/month for a decent place. With a population of 24,109, Wekiwa Springs is a small town. Median household income is $113,067, which feels pretty solid for the area. Homes are going for about $429,600 on average. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
Pros:
- Great weather
- Good job market
- Strong sense of community
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons:
- Hot summers
- Rising rent prices
- High property taxes
- Homelessness issues downtown
It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
5 upvotes
9 Replies
Miles P.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
39 upvotes
Alexa Ortiz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 6 years. Moved from Dallas for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2016 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:**
legal is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. Riverside schools are underrated. 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. Property taxes are high. Road conditions need improvement. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Carter Johnson
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
32 upvotes
Isabelle Morales
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
26 upvotes
Leonardo Ramos
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely decent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (The Heights) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
25 upvotes
Caleb R.
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much wild but now it's improving.
18 upvotes
Emmett Jones
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 11 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2023 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. Sunset 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. Rising rent and home prices. Not very walkable outside downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Jace Ramirez
Moved here last year, no regrets.
7 upvotes
Sara K.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Maple Ridge. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Italian.
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