Poverty rate is 4.5%, which is pretty low. Household incomes average around $103,382 in Blaine. The suburbs are where most families end up. What do you all think? TIA! Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
2 upvotes
7 Replies
Luna Martin
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
38 upvotes
Joshua C.
100%
35 upvotes
Gabriel L.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
32 upvotes
Elizabeth Martinez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 48, moved here 7 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Old Town and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Miami, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
29 upvotes
Jonathan Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Sunset. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Indian.
No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Stella James
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
14 upvotes
Kinsley Ramirez
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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