Been meaning to ask this. I'm a teacher here and It's a a smaller city city with about 31,955 people. Rent is about $2,805/month for a decent place. The food scene here is surprisingly good. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
27 upvotes
15 Replies
Hunter
honestly same experience here
40 upvotes
Kaylee Ortiz
spot on
37 upvotes
Eva
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Natalie Cook
lol so true
37 upvotes
Scarlett M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Baltimore it's hit or miss.
35 upvotes
Kai Myers
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The dating scene is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
34 upvotes
Naomi Mitchell
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
28 upvotes
Addison Rodriguez
following this thread
26 upvotes
Claire H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 38, moved here 13 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Greenfield and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The community vibe situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Atlanta, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K 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.
25 upvotes
portlandvibes2023
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 manageable but now it's decent.
24 upvotes
Jose
Moved here last year, no regrets.
18 upvotes
Thomas P.
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is dating scene. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
14 upvotes
Connor
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor recreation is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
14 upvotes
Hannah Young
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
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