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Sebastian T.
best-worst
Burlington vs St. Louis -which is better?
Hey, Worth the trade-offs? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
18 upvotes
29 Replies
Connor Scott
This.
39 upvotes
Easton Allen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 40, moved here 1 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in The Heights and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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 social worker, 40, moved here 1 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in The Heights and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
38 upvotes
Luca R.
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much affordable but now it's average.
38 upvotes
Sophie C.
I'm a real estate agent and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
38 upvotes
Olivia Peterson
I'm a project manager and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
36 upvotes
Willow C.
yeah no that's not right
36 upvotes
Olivia
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The nightlife is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
35 upvotes
Sarah Reyes
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Portland it's better than expected.
34 upvotes
Emma Turner
I've lived in Eastside for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
33 upvotes
Luke M.
I've lived in North for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The food scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
30 upvotes
Alexa Martin
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 15 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is decent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 15 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is decent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Everett
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Angel Miller
Moved here from Houston about 10 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to weather but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Mackenzie Gomez
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Oak Park area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
27 upvotes
Henry
Used to live on the North side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
26 upvotes
Cameron Kim
hmm interesting perspective
26 upvotes
Kai Torres
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Denver about 4 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm a chef who relocated here from Denver about 4 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Happy to answer more specific questions..
25 upvotes
Parker W.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 7 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Road conditions need improvement. Homeless population growing downtown. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Fairview for 7 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Road conditions need improvement. Homeless population growing downtown. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
24 upvotes
Reagan Phillips
preach
22 upvotes
Emmett N.
haha yep pretty much
22 upvotes
living_addison29
this is the way
14 upvotes
Nova Phillips
literally same
9 upvotes
Josiah R.
I've lived in West for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- The community vibe scene is solid
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
7 upvotes
Asher Phillips
been saying this for years
6 upvotes
Jeremiah Cox
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 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 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in retail. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
5 upvotes
Emma Richardson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
Peyton
I'm a social worker and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
4 upvotes
Abigail F.
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much wild but now it's tough.
4 upvotes
Liam
This.
0 upvotes