OK so I grew up here but left for a while. Poverty rate is 6.4%, which is pretty low. Median household income is $103,845, which feels pretty solid for the area. The suburbs are where most families end up. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cheers. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The weather takes some getting used to. The weather takes some getting used to. The suburbs are where most families end up. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The city has invested a lot in new development. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
6 upvotes
24 Replies
Abigail Hall
interesting, hadn't considered that
35 upvotes
Aiden Rodriguez
nah I disagree
34 upvotes
Joseph C.
as a local I can confirm
33 upvotes
Carter Evans
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Mediterranean places. it's been a really good experience overall.
33 upvotes
Scarlett Moore
good to know, thanks
32 upvotes
Henry B.
Bought a house here in 2020 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
31 upvotes
Ella Murphy
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 13 years. Moved from Atlanta for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. healthcare 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 genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. Cedar Grove schools are hit or miss. 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. Can feel isolated. Far from beaches/mountains. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Reagan Phillips
big facts right here
31 upvotes
Christian B.
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
31 upvotes
Elijah Ward
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in East. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
27 upvotes
Parker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely challenging and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
24 upvotes
Brian A.
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in East area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
21 upvotes
Linda P.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely decent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
19 upvotes
Samuel Smith
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
16 upvotes
William S.
haha yep pretty much
15 upvotes
Reagan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 36, moved here 12 years ago from Boston. I've lived in The Heights and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
12 upvotes
Sebastian P.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great seafood places. it was the best decision I ever made.
9 upvotes
Joshua R.
I'm a chef and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes
Hailey Parker
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to Atlanta it's improving.
5 upvotes
John J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 24, moved here 10 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Riverside and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Can feel isolated
3. The pet-friendliness situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for singles. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Boston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K 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.
5 upvotes
Elijah Jackson
Moved here from LA about 10 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to housing market but Definitely worth checking out..
3 upvotes
Julian Ward
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much established but now it's tough.
3 upvotes
Thomas Williams
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
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.
3 upvotes
Nathan
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 2 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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