saramarshall36

My spouse and I lived on the outskirts of Niles for two years before moving to the heart of Niles, a block away from Downtown (the street with all the antique shops) earlier this year. We LOVE it here and are considering buying here in the future if we can afford it, and if our careers keep us here.

The neighborhood is dog and kid friendly with a mix of owners and renters. The age range is pretty mixed too, with late 20's/early 30's like us, middle age with kids, and retirees. There are a mix of newbies to the neighborhood as well as folks who were born and raised in Niles or have owned their home here for decades.

It's relatively safe and fairly quiet, however, the local bars definitely get some good traffic on the weekends, so if you live on the streets closest to Downtown, expect to hear some drunk nightlifers occasionally on the weekends.

This neighborhood is a walk-lover's paradise. There is quite a bit within walking distance. Downtown Niles of course with a few eateries, and ice cream shop and a bar. Across from the shops is a sweet park and train depot, great for walking our dog. Nearby is the Alameda Creek trail and Niles Community Park with a duck pond and tennis courts. Rancho Arroyo Park is within a short walk too, with a small playground for kids and a great grass area great for dogs. We don't attend church, but if you do there are at least three within walking distance. We have also heard great things about the sweet little elementary school here.

What I love most about the neighborhood is the art and history here. Each house is different, and fun to look at. There are a ton of local community events, most of them from Spring to Summer. This neighborhood is just really quaint, pretty, and friendly. We would LOVE to see more local restaurants and bars come in, so we try to support the local businesses here as much as we can. That being said, there are already some great places here. A burger joint or taqueria would be a welcome addition.

If you don't like hearing a train, this won't be for you, but I don't mind it. I guess my only complaint if you live closer to downtown like we do, it's a bit nosier and the houses tend to be older and closer together. This has Pros and Cons. There's a feeling of safety that your neighbor would hear if there was a break-in, but of course the drawback is that privacy is limited. Our house is over 100 years old, so there have been some minor plumbing issues and it doesn't have the best insulation. Each house is different, and of course we're renting so it isn't the biggest deal, but we would ask a LOT of questions before buying a house as old as this one. Prices to buy seem a bit inflated considering how old many of these homes are.