Alright, I grew up here but left for a while. It's a a smaller city city with about 90,874 people. Average temperature is around 73--F, so it's warm year-round. You can expect to pay around $1,834 for rent here. Median household income is $98,289, which feels pretty solid for the area. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Should I be concerned? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
30 upvotes
11 Replies
Adam
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Seattle it's pretty good.
40 upvotes
Cheryl M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cultural scene. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
jaxrider2022
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 32, moved here 9 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Eastside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Miami, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K 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.
33 upvotes
Zoey Gutierrez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in The Heights. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in tech. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Asher Rivera
nah I disagree
32 upvotes
Addison Jimenez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Midtown) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
27 upvotes
Chloe R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely average and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (West) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
23 upvotes
Brielle Harris
big facts right here
22 upvotes
Sarah
Bought a house here in 2020 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
19 upvotes
Willow Rogers
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 2 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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