Been living here since 2021. Median household income is $122,600, which feels pretty solid for the area. The median home value here is around $830,000, which is pretty steep. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The city has invested a lot in new development. What would you do? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
23 upvotes
30 Replies
Samuel Anderson
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great seafood places. the quality of life is solid.
40 upvotes
Skylar Brooks
hmm interesting perspective
39 upvotes
Adrian Torres
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
39 upvotes
Christian M.
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
39 upvotes
Maverick R.
Moved here from Dallas about 2 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to safety but Feel free to reach out with questions..
38 upvotes
Abigail Lee
seconding this
35 upvotes
Alan T.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Salt Lake City it's tough.
30 upvotes
Zoe R.
I'm a lawyer and I've found I love the pace of life here. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
30 upvotes
Violet M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Chicago about 14 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Sophie Thomas
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 11 years. Moved from Houston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2021 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. legal 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 love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is average - 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. Midtown schools are challenging. 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. Winters are long and cold. Chain restaurants dominate. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Zoey Chavez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 14 years. Moved from Seattle for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Winters are long and cold. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Brielle Lee
Can confirm, been here 3 years.
19 upvotes
Jeremiah Martin
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much wild but now it's better than expected.
16 upvotes
Audrey Bennett
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want healthcare, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
Julian M.
Bought a house here in 2017 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone about the same since then.
15 upvotes
detroit_wyatt
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely average and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (The Heights) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
14 upvotes
Lydia G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 53, moved here 4 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Riverside and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited shopping options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. underrated 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 Dallas, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K 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.
14 upvotes
Nevaeh
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from New York about 6 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are developing, gas is average.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Olivia R.
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
12 upvotes
Robert Miller
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
11 upvotes
Andrea R.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
10 upvotes
Mateo Kelly
I'm a marketing manager and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is average and there's always something going on.
10 upvotes
Nicholas Stewart
spot on
8 upvotes
Emmett R.
haha yep pretty much
8 upvotes
Chloe
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
7 upvotes
Julia G.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
6 upvotes
Bella Ramirez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
6 upvotes
Mason Flores
great question, following
3 upvotes
Reagan Cruz
preach
1 upvotes
Liam Kelly
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, Hope this helps!.