First post here. I'm a 50-year-old restaurant manager and Poverty rate is 6.9%, which is pretty low. With a population of 38,495, Wheeling is a smaller city. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Let me know your thoughts. Cheers. The suburbs are where most families end up. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
28 upvotes
21 Replies
Cameron Y.
lol so true
40 upvotes
Isaiah Johnson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Isaiah Campbell
I've lived in Riverside for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The nightlife scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
40 upvotes
stl_brooks
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Jayden Scott
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
34 upvotes
Clara R.
haha yep pretty much
33 upvotes
Nolan Rivera
Moved here from Austin about 4 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to public transit but No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Aria G.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much developing but now it's better than expected.
30 upvotes
Avery Bennett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 31, moved here 6 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in South and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Property taxes are high
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 San Diego, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
25 upvotes
Isla Diaz
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
24 upvotes
Madelyn Miller
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great BBQ places. it exceeded my expectations.
21 upvotes
Charlotte Collins
I work in manufacturing here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is average. No regrets on my end..
20 upvotes
Wesley Davis
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from San Francisco about 2 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Winters are long and cold
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are wild, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Dylan Foster
I'm a accountant and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
19 upvotes
Parker Torres
I'm a chef and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
15 upvotes
Rylee Gutierrez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Emma
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
5 upvotes
Ryan Cox
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 28, moved here 1 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Springfield and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
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. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The cultural scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. average 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 Raleigh, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
5 upvotes
nashville_isabelle
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 15 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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