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Grayson Morgan
best-worst
What Burnsville does better than anywhere else
Longtime lurker here, The median home value here is around $335,100, which se
10 upvotes
13 Replies
Mateo Stewart
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
38 upvotes
Skylar Brooks
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 30, moved here 6 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Midtown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Limited shopping options
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for couples. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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 software engineer, 30, moved here 6 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Midtown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Limited shopping options
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for couples. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
34 upvotes
Nicole S.
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: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in tech. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in tech. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Evelyn
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Southern places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
26 upvotes
Levi White
good to know, thanks
25 upvotes
Nolan Carter
Bought a house here in 2023 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone about the same since then.
19 upvotes
Peyton Cooper
same here
18 upvotes
Mason Lewis
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from LA for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are underrated. 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. Property taxes are high. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in West for 10 years. Moved from LA for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. West schools are underrated. 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. Property taxes are high. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
17 upvotes
Amelia
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
17 upvotes
houston_aaliyah
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 15 years. Moved from Chicago for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are pretty good. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Road conditions need improvement. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Downtown for 15 years. Moved from Chicago for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are pretty good. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Road conditions need improvement. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Leah Baker
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Baltimore about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is tough.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Baltimore about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is tough.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
10 upvotes
Isaac Rodriguez
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great craft beer places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
6 upvotes
lucas_heart
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
1 upvotes