OK so Born and raised here. Poverty rate is 19.4%, which is higher than I expected. You can expect to pay around $1,047 for rent here. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Looking forward to hearing from you all. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
19 upvotes
7 Replies
Nicholas Cruz
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 Baltimore for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is improving - 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. 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. Winters are long and cold. Dating scene is rough. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Landon Ward
noted, appreciate it
29 upvotes
Nevaeh Evans
couldn't agree more
28 upvotes
Mark H.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Good luck with whatever you decide..
28 upvotes
Nora Perez
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
24 upvotes
Lily Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in real estate. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
Jeremiah Walker
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is safety. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
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