Hey folks, The median home value here is around $497,400, which is pretty steep. Poverty rate is 5.1%, which is pretty low. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. What would you do? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
26 upvotes
14 Replies
Aaliyah Collins
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
37 upvotes
tampa_audrey
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 14 years. Moved from Dallas for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly 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:**
engineering is strong here. tech 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:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is decent - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are surprisingly 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
dcwalker2021
preach
32 upvotes
Isaiah
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Baltimore it's tough.
31 upvotes
Sophia Harris
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Charlotte Cook
yep
21 upvotes
Jace Myers
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Thai places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
18 upvotes
Evan Myers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely better than expected and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Old Town) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
10 upvotes
Aria Nguyen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
loving_aaron47
facts
3 upvotes
Nevaeh Castillo
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
2 upvotes
harper_native
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to San Diego it's better than expected.
0 upvotes
Thomas Ortiz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from Miami for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. hospitality 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. 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. West 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. Rising rent and home prices. Homeless population growing downtown. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, 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.
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