First post here. I'm retired and Rent is about $813/month for a decent place. Crime rate is something to consider -Cache sits at 639.7 per 100K. It's a a small town city with about 3,045 people. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
2 upvotes
2 Replies
Elijah Hall
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 27, moved here 15 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Lots of new development happening
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. Nightlife is limited
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The weather situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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
Julia Torres
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
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