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Ava Young living

Ashland is underrated, change my mind

Hey, I'm a remote worker and It's a a small town city with about 21,405 people. Poverty rate is 14.7%, which is around average. You can expect to pay around $859 for rent here. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Is this normal for Ashland? I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
0 upvotes

10 Replies

Patricia H.
Bought a house here in 2024 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
36 upvotes
Alice Turner
wish I knew this sooner
35 upvotes
Grace Sanchez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.

I've been here 7 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is improving.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

It's not for everyone but it works for us..
30 upvotes
Jack Stewart
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a lawyer, 35, moved here 10 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Eastside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The food scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for retirees. better than expected 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 Atlanta, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. 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.
26 upvotes
Hailey Sanchez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a HR manager, 43, moved here 10 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Cedar Grove and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The food scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Austin, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
25 upvotes
Leonardo Jones
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's solid for what you get.

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

People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.

Feel free to reach out with questions..
25 upvotes
Serenity James
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a software engineer, 37, moved here 10 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Midtown and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The cultural scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. 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 Dallas, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K here.

**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
21 upvotes
Nicholas Bennett
I've lived in Riverside for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
- The dating scene scene is underrated

The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited shopping options

Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. Good luck with whatever you decide..
13 upvotes
Mason Lee
accurate
8 upvotes
Naomi Nguyen
not my experience at all
8 upvotes
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