Curious what people think. I'm a 43-year-old HR manager and Poverty rate is 22.5%, which is higher than I expected. Homes are going for about $122,400 on average. Rent is about $906/month for a decent place. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Worth the trade-offs? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The city has invested a lot in new development. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
47 upvotes
27 Replies
Isabella Alvarez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely decent and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
37 upvotes
Serenity Cox
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
35 upvotes
Brooklyn Ward
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 48, moved here 4 years ago from LA. I've lived in South and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K 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.
29 upvotes
Nathan Bennett
Can confirm, been here 1 years.
29 upvotes
Leah
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Downtown) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
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.
29 upvotes
Miles Ramos
Moved here from Dallas about 9 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to dating scene but No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
brooks_chef
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
25 upvotes
Stella Cruz
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (South) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
25 upvotes
Ruby Torres
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
24 upvotes
Abigail Rodriguez
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
22 upvotes
Adrian Watson
100%
21 upvotes
Willow Thomas
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
21 upvotes
Hazel Foster
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
21 upvotes
Jacob C.
seconding this
19 upvotes
Madelyn King
Totally agree!
19 upvotes
Valentina
hard disagree but ok
17 upvotes
Sofia Brown
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
11 upvotes
Lillian Lee
underrated comment
11 upvotes
Madelyn Allen
hmm interesting perspective
11 upvotes
Julia Parker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely tough and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Downtown) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
11 upvotes
Anna Bailey
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
Jacob Lewis
underrated comment
8 upvotes
Mia Cooper
seconding this
5 upvotes
Mateo C.
haha yep pretty much
5 upvotes
Luna M.
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
4 upvotes
Luca Anderson
preach
3 upvotes
Julia B.
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The pet-friendliness is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
All Countries
