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Ruby Price moving

Considering Athens-Clarke County vs Cleveland — help me decide

Not sure if this has been asked before, but I relocated for work and Median household income is $51,655, which feels on the lower side for the area. You can expect to pay around $1,162 for rent here. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Am I overthinking this?
26 upvotes

3 Replies

Serenity Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a project manager, 44, moved here 2 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
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. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cultural scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K here.

**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
9 upvotes
Kinsley Morgan
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Portland it's solid.
8 upvotes
atl_austin
haha yep pretty much
6 upvotes
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