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Camila L. jobs

Freelancing from Chattanooga — experience?

First post here. It's a a mid-size city city with about 183K people. Poverty rate is 12.4%, which is around average. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Let me know your thoughts.
40 upvotes

10 Replies

Anna Brooks
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
39 upvotes
Leo W.
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Henry Clark
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Atlanta it's solid.
29 upvotes
Logan Carter
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a project manager, 26, moved here 8 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Nice parks and green spaces
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. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited shopping options
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for retirees. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.

**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
26 upvotes
Addison Martinez
I've lived in Greenfield for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Decent public transit for the size
- The healthcare scene is decent

The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Road conditions need improvement

Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Definitely worth checking out..
20 upvotes
orlandomind2023
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The dating scene is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
16 upvotes
Eugene W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a accountant who relocated here from Chicago about 13 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and my partner's job.

Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good internet infrastructure
- Good airport with direct flights

Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited entertainment options

Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are established, gas is tough.

Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Hope this helps!.
14 upvotes
Savannah Gutierrez
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
11 upvotes
Sarah Allen
I've lived in Highland for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- The weather scene is tough

The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Summers can be brutally hot

Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
3 upvotes
Evelyn Cox
accurate
2 upvotes
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