Las Vegas, Nevada

powerhikeit
Living in Vegas
1y ago
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Ignoring the Strip…

It’s like any large-ish city. There are super nice areas, nice areas, meh areas, and bad areas. Traffic sucks - but when it doesn’t, you can get anywhere relatively quickly. People supposedly ignore their neighbors (I know all of mine). The medical system is lacking. If you’re outdoorsy, you’ll likely never be bored. Some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere is nearby (Red Rock NCA and Valley of Fire). Food and shopping opportunities abound. Grocery stores have slot machines. It is fucking hot in the summer and the wind blows constantly in the winter. Roads are constantly under construction. The education system — all levels — is poor. Public services are better in some locales (Henderson) than others (City of Las Vegas). We’re 3-5 hours drive from world class skiing in the winter, Pacific beaches, and about 8 or 10 National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas.

It is the best place to live? No. It is the worst? Also no.

MooseyMan76
Living in Vegas
1y ago
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I’ve been here three years - Pros:

relatively affordable housing - compared to other major cities

weather is enjoyable March through May and September through November

traffic is manageable - generally you can get from one side of town to the other in 30 minutes

good proximity to outdoor destinations like Red Rock, Lake Mead, Mt. Charleston, and Valley of Fire

great selection of restaurants and entertainment

centrally located for flights to California, Texas, AZ, OR, etc

no income taxes

Cons:

summers can be oppressively hot - you aren’t doing much outside unless it’s very early morning or late evening. And winters can be surprisingly cool/cold - for those expecting a year round warm oasis - uh, no. Lots of wind too.

many drivers do seem legitimately crazy - tons of speeding and borderline recklessness

I’ve had bad experiences getting medical care here - there seems to be a shortage of high quality medical professionals

job market is healthy but not tons of high wage STEM kind of jobs

I’m glad I moved here. I won’t stay forever but it has been a positive experience net-net.

pusanggalla
Living in Vegas
1y ago
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I live in the Sky Canyon area, which is a pretty nice area. We have lots of very nice parks for my 5-year-old son to enjoy. There are lots of bike trails and hiking trails nearby. The neighborhood is very nice and clean, and I like it a lot. I also really like that there are a lot of fun shows downtown and it's easy to find fun entertainment.

The biggest downside is that the cost of living is higher than I'm used to. My house cost more than it would if I bought pretty much anywhere else. Gasoline is about a dollar per gallon more expensive than my family in Utah pays, and my electric bill is double what I paid when I lived in other states. (retired military, so I've moved a lot and been in a lot of different states.)

Majestic-Entrance-16
Living in Vegas Area
9mo ago
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The mountains are ALWAYS beautiful.

The sunrises and sunsets are ALWAYS beautiful.

The tax structure at almost any level is better than almost any other state: property tax, income tax, business tax, property transfer tax, pension tax, etc.

It’s also really easy to live here. Maintenance on the things you own is much easier, for the most part, than other locations that experience extreme shifts in weather. Speaking of weather, we are comparatively well insulated against the devastating effects that significant storms can bring.

Las Vegas contributes significantly to the resources and amenities available throughout the City, County, and State. That’s a good feeling. Plenty of states experience a major drain on state resources and find it difficult to provide for everyone. While the state’s coffers aren’t exactly plentiful, it’s a good feeling to know there really are only a handful of municipalities that need to draw upon the funds.

Speaking of amenities, parks and trails and investment in recreation is really to be applauded in the Las Vegas area.

The community is diverse in almost every way. While our populace might not offer much diversity of education, we make up for it by contributing a massively diverse array of backgrounds.

Pros & Cons of Living in LAS VEGAS