OK so Military spouse here. Rent is about $935/month for a decent place. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
11 upvotes
11 Replies
Lily Y.
lol so true
33 upvotes
Aurora Brown
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Miami it's tough.
27 upvotes
Colton
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Springfield side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
25 upvotes
Logan
hmm interesting perspective
24 upvotes
Isabella S.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Riverside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market 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.
23 upvotes
Leah
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 29, moved here 7 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Lakewood and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
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. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The community vibe situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for families. 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 Nashville, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K 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.
18 upvotes
Jack
I'm a software engineer and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
13 upvotes
Reagan D.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 53, moved here 11 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in South and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The job market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. decent 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 Dallas, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K 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.
11 upvotes
miles_papa
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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