Hi all, It's a a smaller city city with about 28,046 people. The median home value here is around $266,500, which seems about average. Poverty rate is 7.1%, which is pretty low. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The suburbs are where most families end up. Any help is appreciated. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The city has invested a lot in new development. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
22 upvotes
14 Replies
coastal_wyatt92
same here
36 upvotes
Naomi Parker
Came here for work and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The school system is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
minneapolis_asher
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 52, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
29 upvotes
Jacob Foster
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Chicago about 1 years ago. The main reasons were school and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is decent.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Good luck with whatever you decide..
29 upvotes
Adam 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 job market is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Highland) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
26 upvotes
Michael
seconding this
25 upvotes
Leonardo T.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Good luck with whatever you decide..
24 upvotes
Aiden Campbell
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 1 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Leo Jimenez
underrated comment
23 upvotes
Isaiah
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 15 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
16 upvotes
Kennedy Ramos
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
11 upvotes
Robert R.
I've lived in Sunset for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- The dating scene scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Henry R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
4 upvotes
Billy R.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to New York it's solid.
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