All Countries
Nolan R.
living
What's it really like living in Bismarck?
Hey folks, What do you all think? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
4 upvotes
24 Replies
Jacob
couldn't agree more
37 upvotes
Samuel Jimenez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Seattle it's improving.
37 upvotes
Hannah Y.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The traffic is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
36 upvotes
Caleb Garcia
accurate
35 upvotes
Adeline Howard
I've lived in Oak Park for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Active local events and festivals
- The walkability scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Active local events and festivals
- The walkability scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
34 upvotes
Logan G.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Minneapolis about 14 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is challenging.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. No regrets on my end..
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Minneapolis about 14 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is challenging.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Maya Martinez
100%
29 upvotes
Easton G.
I'm a writer and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
28 upvotes
Arianna W.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Isabella J.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Austin 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 Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Pine Hills. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
20 upvotes
Leonardo Anderson
Moved here from Charlotte about 4 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to housing market but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
William Lewis
been saying this for years
15 upvotes
Vivian Flores
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
13 upvotes
Nora Price
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
12 upvotes
Mackenzie Clark
nah I disagree
12 upvotes
Autumn Lewis
exactly what I was thinking
10 upvotes
Joshua K.
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Oak Park area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
10 upvotes
Easton G.
I work in legal here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is pretty good. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Aria Kelly
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Chicago about 5 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is solid.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Chicago about 5 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is solid.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
7 upvotes
Ava C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 7 years. Moved from Minneapolis for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are average. 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. Limited public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in The Heights for 7 years. Moved from Minneapolis for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are average. 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. Limited public transit options. Summers can be brutally hot. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
bella_mama
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
6 upvotes
Zoe Gray
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
4 upvotes
Ezra Green
interesting, hadn't considered that
3 upvotes
Brooklyn Torres
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
3 upvotes