First post here. I'm a teacher here and It's a a smaller city city with about 33,209 people. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Is this normal for Chester? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
4 upvotes
15 Replies
Waylon Ramos
haha yep pretty much
40 upvotes
Camila King
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
33 upvotes
Dylan R.
wish I knew this sooner
31 upvotes
Nathan W.
Bought a house here in 2019 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone about the same since then.
29 upvotes
Elena Foster
bump
29 upvotes
Jayden Parker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely solid and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Highland) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
28 upvotes
Victoria Howard
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it exceeded my expectations.
27 upvotes
Angel Jackson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 38, moved here 14 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in North and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Baltimore, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K 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.
26 upvotes
Willow Bennett
I've lived in West for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The dating scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Urban sprawl is real
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
Beverly W.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
25 upvotes
Caroline Richardson
thanks for sharing
24 upvotes
Luke Patel
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from New York 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 Uptown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
18 upvotes
Maverick Ortiz
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
raised_christian21
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
11 upvotes
Owen Davis
I've lived in Highland for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The traffic scene is average
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
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