Hey, It's a a mid-size city city with about 118K people. Median household income is $71,855, which feels about average for the area. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
55 upvotes
27 Replies
Cameron Mitchell
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
40 upvotes
Adeline Sanders
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Tampa it's underrated.
39 upvotes
Michael Jackson
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much wild but now it's better than expected.
35 upvotes
Aaliyah R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 12 years. Moved from Chicago for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is decent - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are better than expected. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited entertainment options. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Brielle King
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
33 upvotes
raleigh_nova
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
32 upvotes
austinlife2021
literally same
29 upvotes
Jonathan Carter
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 10 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
28 upvotes
Carson W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely average and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (North) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Limited public transit 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.
27 upvotes
David Garcia
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 4 years. Moved from Charlotte for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Julia Reyes
this is the way
21 upvotes
Frank G.
glad someone said it
21 upvotes
loving_cooper63
been saying this for years
20 upvotes
Isabella Reed
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
19 upvotes
Shirley A.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Nashville about 1 years ago. The main reasons were weather and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is solid.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Hope this helps!.
18 upvotes
Ariana Young
+1
15 upvotes
Valentina Jimenez
same here
14 upvotes
Robert Sanders
Can confirm, been here 4 years.
10 upvotes
Xavier
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
Grace Young
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Baltimore it's tough.
7 upvotes
Anna Ward
wish I knew this sooner
6 upvotes
Arianna
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
6 upvotes
Luna Cox
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great craft beer places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
5 upvotes
Aurora B.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
2 upvotes
Henry Cooper
yeah no that's not right
1 upvotes
mountain_hunter72
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Italian.
No regrets on my end..
1 upvotes
Carter Ross
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Indian places. the quality of life is solid.
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