Hey, I'm single, late 40s, and It's a a small town city with about 13,854 people. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Let me know your thoughts.
10 upvotes
12 Replies
Sophia
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
Allison Ward
thanks for sharing
38 upvotes
Nathan Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 31, moved here 14 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Greenfield and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Limited shopping options
3. The traffic situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Charlotte, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K 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.
30 upvotes
Emmett Rivera
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
27 upvotes
Mackenzie Adams
same here
26 upvotes
Connor R.
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much pricey but now it's average.
25 upvotes
Alexander Harris
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Atlanta it's pretty good.
24 upvotes
Jack Howard
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 46, moved here 2 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Downtown and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Property taxes are high
3. The school system situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for remote workers. tough 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 Tampa, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$110K 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.
23 upvotes
sacramentogirl2026
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 5 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South 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. Can feel isolated. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Olivia Cruz
Bought a house here in 2016 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
16 upvotes
Emma
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
11 upvotes
Elena Sanders
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great craft beer places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
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