First post here. Household incomes average around $90,091 in Central. The median home value here is around $270,700, which seems about average. It's a a smaller city city with about 29,603 people. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The suburbs are where most families end up. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
24 upvotes
10 Replies
kcvibes2024
couldn't agree more
40 upvotes
Avery Brown
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
Everett
I've lived in Downtown for about 3 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 Minneapolis, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- The walkability scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Roy N.
noted, appreciate it
26 upvotes
Audrey Cox
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 58, moved here 8 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Sunset and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. decent 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 San Francisco, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
22 upvotes
Landon D.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Tampa 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 East. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Paisley Howard
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
18 upvotes
Ellie Young
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 48, moved here 9 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Uptown and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good internet infrastructure
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. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for remote workers. decent 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 Houston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
11 upvotes
Kennedy
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. it's exactly what I was looking for.
9 upvotes
Carson Davis
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely underrated and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Sunset) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
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