Curious what people think. My partner and I are Household incomes average around $112,482 in Bridgewater Town. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Worth the trade-offs? The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
23 upvotes
23 Replies
Skylar Anderson
This.
40 upvotes
Matthew Mitchell
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
39 upvotes
William
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 29, moved here 5 years ago from LA. I've lived in Downtown and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 LA, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. 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.
37 upvotes
Joseph Hill
facts
36 upvotes
Nevaeh
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Westside area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Chloe R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 49, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Sunset and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$120K 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.
33 upvotes
Madeline C.
interesting, hadn't considered that
33 upvotes
Dylan Martinez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 10 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Luke Young
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Definitely worth checking out..
25 upvotes
sunny_nolan64
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
25 upvotes
Axel Hall
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
19 upvotes
Melanie
I'm a lawyer and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
19 upvotes
Hazel Bennett
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 10 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Greenfield and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The walkability situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for young professionals. decent vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Phoenix, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
19 upvotes
Samuel Diaz
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
Piper P.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
16 upvotes
Aaron C.
interesting, hadn't considered that
15 upvotes
Joseph D.
honestly same experience here
12 upvotes
Willow Phillips
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much stable but now it's pretty good.
12 upvotes
Nevaeh Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 33, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in North and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Property taxes are high
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for retirees. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Houston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
8 upvotes
Emilia W.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
6 upvotes
mountain_elijah38
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely challenging and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (South) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
3 upvotes
Serenity S.
great question, following
3 upvotes
Violet Wood
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The healthcare is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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