Hi all, I'm single, late 30s, and With a population of 7,222, Carmel is a small town. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cheers. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
1 upvotes
14 Replies
Isla Foster
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 8 years. Moved from LA for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is average - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown schools are challenging. 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. Limited entertainment options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Jaxon Anderson
underrated comment
37 upvotes
native_isabella67
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Sunset. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Michael Richardson
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Aaron Sanders
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Eastside area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
John Ward
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Sunset. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in construction. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Zoey Hill
following this thread
18 upvotes
Hailey L.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 10 years. Moved from Atlanta for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. 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 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Meadowbrook schools are average. 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. Winters are long and cold. Not very walkable outside downtown. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Joseph White
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
13 upvotes
Naomi Howard
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Westside) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
9 upvotes
houstonkid2026
Bought a house here in 2016 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
8 upvotes
Kai Carter
Moved here from Raleigh about 12 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to walkability but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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