First post here. Just moved here 2 months ago and You can expect to pay around $1,695 for rent here. Poverty rate is 3.8%, which is pretty low. It's a a smaller city city with about 33,595 people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Am I wrong here? It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
26 upvotes
14 Replies
Audrey L.
exactly what I was thinking
39 upvotes
Miles Johnson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 41, moved here 3 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Midtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Close to major attractions
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. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited shopping options
3. The cost of living situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. pretty 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 Portland, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$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.
39 upvotes
Audrey
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Dallas about 14 years ago. The main reasons were work and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Feel free to reach out with questions..
35 upvotes
Hannah Lopez
accurate
35 upvotes
Alexis C.
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much growing but now it's hit or miss.
34 upvotes
Isabella R.
wish I knew this sooner
33 upvotes
Nevaeh Peterson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 25, moved here 13 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in East and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The public transit situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for remote workers. solid 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. 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.
28 upvotes
Sharon K.
interesting, hadn't considered that
20 upvotes
Everett Gutierrez
preach
17 upvotes
Axel Collins
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
12 upvotes
Sophie Walker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Eastside. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in construction. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
8 upvotes
Leonardo James
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The job market is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
8 upvotes
Ezra D.
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
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