Curious what people think. My family moved here when I was a kid. Median household income is $44,321, which feels on the lower side for the area. The weather takes some getting used to. Am I wrong here? Any help is appreciated. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
27 upvotes
29 Replies
nashville_stella
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 49, moved here 7 years ago from LA. I've lived in Springfield and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The walkability situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 LA, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
36 upvotes
Isaac Taylor
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely excellent and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
36 upvotes
proud_parker36
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in East area are excellent. Kids love it here.
32 upvotes
tucson_olivia
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
31 upvotes
Ryan White
100%
29 upvotes
Dennis R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Chicago about 14 years ago. The main reasons were work and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Happy to answer more specific questions..
29 upvotes
Josiah Hernandez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
25 upvotes
Luke Young
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much developing but now it's pretty good.
24 upvotes
Sophia C.
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Hazel Castillo
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
No regrets on my end..
21 upvotes
Mateo Turner
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely challenging and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Midtown) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. school system 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.
20 upvotes
Addison J.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 1 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
16 upvotes
Matthew Phillips
Bought a house here in 2022 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone about the same since then.
16 upvotes
Edward A.
Moved here from Phoenix about 12 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to food scene but No regrets on my end..
14 upvotes
Parker Thompson
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much wild but now it's better than expected.
12 upvotes
Elena Myers
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 12 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
loving_victoria5
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 4 years. Moved from San Francisco for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. marketing 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 not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is improving - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are tough. 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. Dating scene is rough. Homeless population growing downtown. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
tucsonkid2022
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much competitive but now it's average.
9 upvotes
Brooklyn
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 32, moved here 2 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Pine Hills and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The walkability situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for singles. tough vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
8 upvotes
Isaiah Patel
hmm interesting perspective
8 upvotes
Hudson Miller
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much pricey but now it's better than expected.
8 upvotes
Robert Wilson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 51, moved here 5 years ago from New York. I've lived in Eastside and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for retirees. surprisingly good 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 New York, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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.
6 upvotes
Miles G.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Feel free to reach out with questions..
5 upvotes
Leah Myers
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 46, moved here 11 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Fairview and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The nightlife situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
2 upvotes
Audrey J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 48, moved here 6 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Lakewood and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The housing market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Tampa, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
2 upvotes
Joseph M.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Thai places. I love the pace of life here.
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