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Peyton King
moving
Moving to Athens with kids -good idea?
People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
9 upvotes
6 Replies
ladude2021
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
40 upvotes
urban_hudson57
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 55, moved here 14 years ago from Portland. I've lived in West and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
Background: I'm a teacher, 55, moved here 14 years ago from Portland. I've lived in West and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
27 upvotes
Christine C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from LA about 13 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are competitive, gas is improving.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a social worker who relocated here from LA about 13 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are competitive, gas is improving.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
21 upvotes
Mateo Perez
hard disagree but ok
9 upvotes
eli_mama
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 47, moved here 5 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Eastside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Diverse dining options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The public transit situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
Background: I'm a electrician, 47, moved here 5 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Eastside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Diverse dining options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The public transit situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
1 upvotes
Grace R.
I've lived in West for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- The housing market scene is decent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- The housing market scene is decent
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
0 upvotes