Hello, I work in healthcare and Median household income is $53,370, which feels on the lower side for the area. It's a a small town city with about 17,235 people. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Would love some local perspective. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The city has invested a lot in new development.
14 upvotes
9 Replies
Zoe Gray
this is the way
40 upvotes
Lydia Kelly
Moved here from Portland about 14 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to healthcare but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Sophia L.
interesting, hadn't considered that
30 upvotes
Alexander Harris
underrated comment
30 upvotes
Nevaeh
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Zoe Cox
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 2 years. Moved from Miami for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - 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. Westside schools are solid. 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. Limited high-paying job options. Far from beaches/mountains. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Valentina Reed
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The food scene is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
13 upvotes
Mia
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is pet-friendliness. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
12 upvotes
Eric L.
I'm a contractor and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
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