Should I move to Brooklyn Park or stay in Kansas City?
Hello, We're a young couple and The unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is pretty low. Poverty rate is 5.7%, which is pretty low. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Am I wrong here? The weather takes some getting used to. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
11 upvotes
5 Replies
chill_colton4
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 31, moved here 9 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in West and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The walkability situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Raleigh, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K 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.
17 upvotes
Brooklyn Jimenez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 31, moved here 3 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Springfield and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cultural scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. challenging vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Charlotte, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$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.
12 upvotes
Mia M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely pretty good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (South) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
1 upvotes
Aria Williams
literally same
0 upvotes
Aria R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
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