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Ruby Myers best-worst

Most overrated things about Albany

So, I'm a 28-year-old physical therapist and Poverty rate is 8.8%, which is pretty low. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Has anyone dealt with this? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
24 upvotes

23 Replies

Naomi
I'm a real estate agent and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
37 upvotes
Mia R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a teacher who relocated here from Atlanta about 2 years ago. The main reasons were school and quality of life.

Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Close to major attractions

Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Homeless population growing downtown

Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is improving.

Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
36 upvotes
Greyson Reyes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Cedar Grove for 10 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2017 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. Older homes are where the value is.

**Employment:**
retail is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. Cedar Grove schools are hit or miss. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And food scene can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Miles Sanders
interesting, hadn't considered that
35 upvotes
Cooper Morgan
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The healthcare is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Evan Diaz
seconding this
32 upvotes
Jean L.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Dallas about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.

Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options

Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Bugs and humidity in summer

Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are affordable, gas is challenging.

Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Lucy James
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's average for what you get.

Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in finance you might struggle.

People: Generally underrated. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: improving. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.

No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
Oliver White
Bought a house here in 2020 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
26 upvotes
Jose Kelly
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Eastside. It's average for what you get.

Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in marketing you might struggle.

People: Generally improving. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.

Hope this helps!.
19 upvotes
Helen F.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Fairview for 12 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.

**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are hit or miss. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Far from beaches/mountains. And cultural scene can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Gabriel Ruiz
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Cedar Grove side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
15 upvotes
Clara B.
haha yep pretty much
14 upvotes
Samuel Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a accountant, 45, moved here 13 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Sunset and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Portland, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.

**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
13 upvotes
Charlotte Mendoza
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
12 upvotes
Natalie Thomas
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Atlanta about 6 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.

Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Affordable housing options
- Strong sense of community

Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Property taxes are high

Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is solid.

Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Feel free to reach out with questions..
12 upvotes
Bella White
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
12 upvotes
Paisley Gray
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
Brielle Castillo
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
7 upvotes
Julia Morgan
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
5 upvotes
Claire R.
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much manageable but now it's excellent.
3 upvotes
cora_native
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Denver about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.

Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Close to major attractions
- Good airport with direct flights

Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Not very walkable outside downtown

Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are competitive, gas is surprisingly good.

Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Theodore
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
1 upvotes
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