Grocery stores in Carolina zona urbana — recommendations?
Hey folks, We have two kids and It's a a mid-size city city with about 139K people. Household incomes average around $35,843 in Carolina zona urbana. The suburbs are where most families end up. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
51 upvotes
23 Replies
Joseph Lee
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Eastside area are challenging. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Tyler W.
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
39 upvotes
Grayson H.
I've lived in West for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
- The healthcare scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
33 upvotes
Savannah W.
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Riverside area are solid. Kids love it here.
27 upvotes
Aiden G.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
27 upvotes
Reagan Carter
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
27 upvotes
Bella
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in Highland area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
26 upvotes
Vivian W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 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 South. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in government. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
25 upvotes
atlguy2023
nah I disagree
24 upvotes
loving_colton17
spot on
23 upvotes
Jace
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in marketing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
21 upvotes
Clara Thomas
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
18 upvotes
Axel Jones
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
Claire T.
I work in healthcare here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is better than expected. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
Elijah Lewis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 36, moved here 11 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The public transit situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$120K 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.
13 upvotes
tampagirl2023
This.
13 upvotes
Leonardo W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Eastside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
Asher
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
9 upvotes
Arianna M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Portland about 6 years ago. The main reasons were weather and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are competitive, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
6 upvotes
Hannah Nelson
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
4 upvotes
Brielle Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 58, moved here 8 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Westside and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Property taxes are high
3. The weather situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for retirees. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 affordable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K 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.
3 upvotes
Violet Gomez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 31, moved here 12 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in West and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good airport with direct flights
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Atlanta, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
1 upvotes
Aria A.
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much established but now it's pretty good.
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