Hey folks, I'm a teacher here and Rent is about $2,779/month for a decent place. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Worth the trade-offs?
4 upvotes
11 Replies
oaklandliving2024
Came here for school and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The community vibe is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
36 upvotes
Hailey Howard
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in finance. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
maya_walker
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
35 upvotes
phillylocal2021
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
27 upvotes
lake_kai91
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
23 upvotes
Arianna Allen
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Greenfield area are decent. Kids love it here.
20 upvotes
Ian Morris
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
18 upvotes
Chloe Torres
it depends on the neighborhood
14 upvotes
Abigail F.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 8 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
consulting is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have hiking trails 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 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. Nightlife is limited. Urban sprawl is real. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
nyc_mia
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
9 upvotes
Michael Foster
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
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