Hey everyone, Average temperature is around 65--F, so the weather is moderate. It's a a smaller city city with about 54,817 people. The suburbs are where most families end up.
17 upvotes
29 Replies
Lucy W.
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
40 upvotes
Nolan Rivera
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The cultural scene is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
39 upvotes
Katherine
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Noah M.
spot on
36 upvotes
Adam Walker
honestly same experience here
35 upvotes
Christian R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 3 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
Barbara R.
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Miles Sanchez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is underrated in most areas.
32 upvotes
Benjamin
Saving this thread
32 upvotes
Eleanor S.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 29, moved here 1 years ago from LA. I've lived in Oak Park and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
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. Limited public transit options
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The cost of living situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 LA, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
30 upvotes
Logan J.
I'm a data analyst and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
28 upvotes
Josiah Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 50, moved here 2 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Can feel isolated
3. The cultural scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Seattle, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
26 upvotes
Easton Gomez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely decent and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Sunset) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Atlanta, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
26 upvotes
Mia Cook
yeah no that's not right
25 upvotes
Ryan Brown
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Atlanta it's improving.
22 upvotes
Alexa Ward
it depends on the neighborhood
21 upvotes
Allison Brown
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Eastside area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
20 upvotes
Aaron White
I work in marketing here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Hope this helps!.
18 upvotes
Samuel Mendoza
glad someone said it
17 upvotes
jax_elizabeth
noted, appreciate it
15 upvotes
Cooper Reyes
haha yep pretty much
15 upvotes
Hudson A.
underrated comment
13 upvotes
Skylar Patel
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in tech. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like sushi.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Easton Rodriguez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely average and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Eastside) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
10 upvotes
Theodore Ramirez
following this thread
7 upvotes
sd_christian
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
4 upvotes
Santiago J.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 14 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
4 upvotes
Sofia Alvarez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Seattle it's underrated.
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