Curious what people think. I'm a college student here and You can expect to pay around $1,259 for rent here. Median household income is $104,129, which feels pretty solid for the area. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
10 upvotes
14 Replies
Audrey G.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Nashville about 5 years ago. The main reasons were family and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Diverse dining options
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are growing, gas is challenging.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. No regrets on my end..
40 upvotes
Axel Peterson
preach
39 upvotes
Cameron
this is the way
32 upvotes
Jack G.
honestly same experience here
31 upvotes
Mia Castillo
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Korean places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
29 upvotes
Theresa N.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
26 upvotes
Stella Turner
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Minneapolis it's hit or miss.
26 upvotes
Quinn G.
I've lived in East for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
- The pet-friendliness scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Leo Ward
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
Sofia Phillips
Saving this thread
15 upvotes
Peyton Ward
Moved here from Tampa about 6 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but Good luck with whatever you decide..
9 upvotes
Emilia H.
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 tough and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market 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.
8 upvotes
Theodore Ortiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Hailey
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much developing but now it's challenging.