Thinking about relocating to Bowie from Minneapolis
Hey everyone, Rent is about $2,240/month for a decent place. The suburbs are where most families end up. Any advice would be great. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
14 upvotes
12 Replies
roman_mama
Saving this thread
38 upvotes
Henry Campbell
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
36 upvotes
Kennedy
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 30, moved here 15 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Lakewood and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Baltimore, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
35 upvotes
John N.
Bought a house here in 2015 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
25 upvotes
Samuel T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 57, moved here 1 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Springfield and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Can feel isolated
3. The cultural scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Denver, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
25 upvotes
Nicholas Jones
bump
24 upvotes
Isaac C.
noted, appreciate it
19 upvotes
Robert Peterson
Came here for work and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The school system is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Gianna Jackson
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in The Heights area are average. Kids love it here.
12 upvotes
denver_rylee
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
10 upvotes
Levi Lee
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
8 upvotes
Brenda D.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 15 years ago. The main reasons were work and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Happy to answer more specific questions..
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