Anyone else feel this way? I've been here for 5 years and Rent is about $1,483/month for a decent place. Poverty rate is 6.6%, which is pretty low. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The city has invested a lot in new development. Any advice would be great.
26 upvotes
24 Replies
Nicholas Torres
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 3 years. Moved from Seattle for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have beaches 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 better than expected. 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 public transit options. Chain restaurants dominate. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Diane C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
40 upvotes
Natalie Campbell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 29, moved here 15 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for young professionals. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Phoenix, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
39 upvotes
Peyton King
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Dallas 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 Cedar Grove. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
Miles Gray
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The cost of living is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
37 upvotes
Mason Phillips
noted, appreciate it
37 upvotes
Cora White
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
35 upvotes
Hannah Phillips
I work in marketing here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is pretty good. Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Oliver Gutierrez
not my experience at all
33 upvotes
Autumn G.
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much growing but now it's surprisingly good.
29 upvotes
Savannah B.
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
27 upvotes
Gabriella Johnson
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
24 upvotes
Madeline Allen
hard disagree but ok
23 upvotes
dc_ava
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Phoenix it's excellent.
20 upvotes
Henry Watson
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
18 upvotes
Lydia Morris
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
17 upvotes
Leah Rivera
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 12 years. Moved from New York for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. consulting 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:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is decent - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are excellent. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Limited high-paying job options. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Eleanor Clark
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Worth doing your research before committing.
12 upvotes
Wesley Roberts
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in Springfield area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
tulsa_lucas
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
9 upvotes
Emma F.
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
9 upvotes
Aria A.
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I love the pace of life here.
8 upvotes
Ariana Price
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 healthcare. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
Bennett Taylor
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Salt Lake City it's pretty good.
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