Hey everyone, Military spouse here. It's a a small town city with about 20,008 people. The unemployment rate is 5.0%, which is about average. You can expect to pay around $649 for rent here. Median household income is $54,234, which feels on the lower side for the area. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. What would you do? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
0 upvotes
12 Replies
Cooper
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Kaylee
yeah no that's not right
38 upvotes
Doris M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is job market. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
38 upvotes
Paisley Sanchez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 36, moved here 1 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The school system situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Houston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K 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.
37 upvotes
Joseph Ruiz
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
33 upvotes
Camila Morales
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in consulting. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
15 upvotes
Logan Nelson
lol so true
15 upvotes
Piper Diaz
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
11 upvotes
lake_mason26
Bought a house here in 2018 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone about the same since then.
10 upvotes
Kaylee B.
hmm interesting perspective
3 upvotes
Cameron
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
2 upvotes
Cooper Lopez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
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