I've been here for 10 years and Homes are going for about $370,700 on average. Median household income is $108,465, which feels pretty solid for the area. Property taxes are high but you get good services. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. What are your go-to spots? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
17 upvotes
28 Replies
Noah Ramirez
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
38 upvotes
Nora C.
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Xavier Chavez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Mason Kelly
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (North) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
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.
32 upvotes
portland_cameron
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The housing market is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
31 upvotes
Eli Murphy
Can confirm, been here 4 years.
30 upvotes
Serenity Campbell
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
30 upvotes
Carter Castillo
Bought a house here in 2024 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
29 upvotes
Anna Lopez
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
28 upvotes
Isla White
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is challenging in most areas.
26 upvotes
Isaiah Thompson
This.
26 upvotes
Bennett Reyes
same here
21 upvotes
Cameron P.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Definitely worth checking out..
20 upvotes
Nora Sanders
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Chicago about 4 years ago. The main reasons were weather and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are wild, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Amelia Reed
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
18 upvotes
Katherine Smith
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Jordan Parker
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much manageable but now it's pretty good.
15 upvotes
omahalover2024
thanks for sharing
10 upvotes
Jack Stewart
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 12 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
9 upvotes
Skylar Mendoza
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
Lucy Harris
Came here for quality of life and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The cultural scene is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
8 upvotes
Valentina Morales
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 1 years. Moved from Tampa for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is improving - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are underrated. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. Bugs and humidity in summer. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
5 upvotes
Isabelle
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
4 upvotes
Addison T.
spot on
3 upvotes
chicagomind2026
This.
3 upvotes
Nathan Miller
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The cultural scene is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
2 upvotes
Isabelle Diaz
I work in consulting here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is solid. Feel free to reach out with questions..
2 upvotes
Jean H.
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.