Hey folks, You can expect to pay around $1,332 for rent here. Poverty rate is 4.9%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $348,800, which seems about average. Homes are going for about $348,800 on average. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Has anyone dealt with this? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
22 upvotes
22 Replies
Owen Turner
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 54, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Downtown and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The housing market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K 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.
34 upvotes
mesa_harper
100%
31 upvotes
Bradley G.
glad someone said it
30 upvotes
Hunter Reed
seconding this
29 upvotes
Arianna Watson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 10 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
27 upvotes
Daniel
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
27 upvotes
Hazel J.
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
24 upvotes
Aubrey Morgan
bump
23 upvotes
Rylee Davis
+1
20 upvotes
Aurora
Bought a house here in 2021 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
12 upvotes
Harper Hernandez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 2 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
12 upvotes
Leah
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is walkability. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
William M.
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
8 upvotes
Eugene E.
literally same
8 upvotes
David Sanders
it depends on the neighborhood
7 upvotes
Lydia Adams
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Chicago about 6 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are stable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Hope this helps!.
3 upvotes
Jack C.
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 5 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but No regrets on my end..
3 upvotes
Thomas Lee
accurate
2 upvotes
Debra W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely underrated and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (East) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
2 upvotes
nola_camila
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 27, moved here 11 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Portland, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
1 upvotes
Violet Walker
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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