Hi all, I'm a 37-year-old physical therapist and You can expect to pay around $1,178 for rent here. The median home value here is around $223,000, which is actually reasonable. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Is this normal for Albany? Cheers. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
25 upvotes
16 Replies
James Howard
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much wild but now it's improving.
40 upvotes
Pamela B.
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
38 upvotes
Lucy Cooper
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
37 upvotes
Hunter Thompson
I've lived in North for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Lots of new development happening
- The school system scene is better than expected
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Miles Young
lol so true
32 upvotes
Ethan
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. Definitely worth checking out..
31 upvotes
Mia
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in tech. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Landon T.
Bought a house here in 2018 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
30 upvotes
Gabriella
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
29 upvotes
Olivia H.
This.
25 upvotes
Serenity Campbell
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is dating scene. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Avery Diaz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Naomi Evans
haha yep pretty much
7 upvotes
Waylon
as a local I can confirm
5 upvotes
Arianna Richardson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Greenfield for 1 years. Moved from Chicago for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are improving. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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