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Everett Cruz
moving
Remote worker thinking about Brandon
I relocated for work and With a population of 116K, Brandon is a mid-size city. Thanks!
60 upvotes
12 Replies
Diane G.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (The Heights) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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 outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (The Heights) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
38 upvotes
Caleb Scott
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 38, moved here 7 years ago from New York. I've lived in The Heights and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 New York, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
Background: I'm a electrician, 38, moved here 7 years ago from New York. I've lived in The Heights and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 New York, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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
Zachary G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Isla Davis
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Wesley Morris
interesting, hadn't considered that
23 upvotes
Frances G.
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
21 upvotes
happy_austin77
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
20 upvotes
Alice Hill
I work in legal here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is solid. No regrets on my end..
16 upvotes
Bella Howard
Used to live on the Maple Ridge side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
15 upvotes
Josiah Garcia
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Westside area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
12 upvotes
Nolan Alvarez
Totally agree!
10 upvotes
Lily
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Raleigh 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 pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Hope this helps!.
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 pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Hope this helps!.
2 upvotes