Hey, I'm single, late 40s, and The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is pretty low. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The suburbs are where most families end up. Thoughts? The weather takes some getting used to. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
17 upvotes
29 Replies
Jackson Allen
literally same
40 upvotes
Jordan Rogers
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The food scene is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Isabelle Peterson
couldn't agree more
40 upvotes
Elizabeth Turner
100%
37 upvotes
Xavier Parker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 1 years. Moved from LA for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is improving - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are pretty good. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Bugs and humidity in summer. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Adrian Nguyen
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much reasonable but now it's hit or miss.
34 upvotes
Reagan Gonzalez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is challenging in most areas.
33 upvotes
Jeremiah C.
exactly what I was thinking
33 upvotes
Gerald H.
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Jack K.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely underrated and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Eastside) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
31 upvotes
Eli D.
yep
31 upvotes
John Mendoza
literally same
30 upvotes
Luna Peterson
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
30 upvotes
Leo M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
30 upvotes
Isaac Anderson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 13 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Natalie C.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. Definitely worth checking out..
25 upvotes
Ian Walker
Totally agree!
24 upvotes
Brooks Taylor
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
24 upvotes
Leonardo Sanchez
nah I disagree
22 upvotes
Ella Cruz
preach
21 upvotes
native_ian37
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Old Town) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
19 upvotes
Violet Robinson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Cedar Grove. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
18 upvotes
Adrian Ruiz
yeah no that's not right
16 upvotes
Caleb W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 2 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
12 upvotes
Peyton Wilson
glad someone said it
7 upvotes
Hudson
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
3 upvotes
Sofia Alvarez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
1 upvotes
Daniel
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much pricey but now it's improving.
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