Born and raised here. Household incomes average around $96,250 in Bithlo. The unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,373/month for a decent place. It's a a small town city with about 10,790 people. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Let me know your thoughts. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
10 upvotes
15 Replies
Reagan A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Highland. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
38 upvotes
Ellie Parker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 6 years. Moved from Charlotte for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is average - we have beaches 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 surprisingly good. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not very walkable outside downtown. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Waylon H.
great question, following
37 upvotes
Leonardo Edwards
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
Timothy M.
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much developing but now it's decent.
32 upvotes
Christine A.
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Connor Phillips
bump
31 upvotes
Carson Reed
Totally agree!
29 upvotes
Axel W.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
28 upvotes
Jackson Nguyen
literally same
24 upvotes
Adeline Edwards
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Kathryn T.
Saving this thread
15 upvotes
Axel Ward
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
13 upvotes
Mia Nguyen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Charlotte about 6 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are growing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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