So, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Median household income is $113,103, which feels pretty solid for the area. Homes are going for about $289,200 on average. Poverty rate is 1.3%, which is pretty low. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. What do you all think? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
9 upvotes
9 Replies
Ava Ruiz
this is the way
37 upvotes
Adrian Miller
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much affordable but now it's solid.
36 upvotes
Jonathan Walker
hmm interesting perspective
19 upvotes
Paisley Lewis
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
17 upvotes
Isabella Price
nah I disagree
17 upvotes
Camila R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 32, moved here 14 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Riverside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Phoenix, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K 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.
15 upvotes
Avery J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 30, moved here 1 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Springfield and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Denver, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
9 upvotes
Autumn Turner
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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