OK so We have two kids and Crime rate is something to consider -Blue Hill sits at 75.8 per 100K. Homes are going for about $343,000 on average. It's a a small town city with about 1,066 people. Poverty rate is 15.7%, which is higher than I expected. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
3 upvotes
15 Replies
Ella M.
hard disagree but ok
40 upvotes
Ezra
great question, following
40 upvotes
Parker Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Boston 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 Downtown. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
26 upvotes
Aiden Sanders
this is the way
24 upvotes
Lydia Ward
I work in education here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
24 upvotes
sd_christian
spot on
23 upvotes
Aaron Cox
I've lived in West for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Lots of new development happening
- The public transit scene is improving
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Piper Jones
bump
17 upvotes
Jose Wright
noted, appreciate it
17 upvotes
Amelia Cook
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Meadowbrook. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Nora Watson
same here
15 upvotes
Charlotte Reed
this is the way
15 upvotes
Brielle
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 12 years. Moved from San Francisco for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. retail 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:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are decent. 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 shopping options. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Luke Wilson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
1 upvotes
Reagan E.
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
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