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Levi Jones living

Living in Darby -the reality

I'm retired and Household incomes average around $45,128 in Darby. It's a a small town city with about 10,664 people. The unemployment rate is 11.4%, which is concerning. Poverty rate is 29.8%, which is higher than I expected. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.

Pros:
- Low crime in most areas
- Good schools
- Lots of new development

Cons:
- Sprawl everywhere
- Lack of diversity
- Limited cultural events
Cheers. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
9 upvotes

15 Replies

Austin R.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great craft beer places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
38 upvotes
Matthew M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's challenging for what you get.

Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in engineering you might struggle.

People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like sushi.

Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
34 upvotes
Vivian Ruiz
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The school system is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
Hunter Taylor
haha yep pretty much
31 upvotes
brielle_life
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
28 upvotes
Hazel Howard
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a social worker, 34, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Cedar Grove and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.

**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
24 upvotes
Kayden R.
wish I knew this sooner
21 upvotes
Cooper Jimenez
preach
14 upvotes
Charlotte Hernandez
bump
12 upvotes
Adam Allen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a social worker who relocated here from Minneapolis about 13 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and retirement.

Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Close to major attractions

Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Urban sprawl is real

Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is surprisingly good.

Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Kinsley Davis
I've lived in Midtown for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The cultural scene scene is solid

The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Homeless population growing downtown

Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
5 upvotes
Reagan Richardson
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Jaxon Martinez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a contractor, 36, moved here 8 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Midtown and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
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. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The dating scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for young professionals. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.

**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
3 upvotes
Jonathan Watson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Definitely worth checking out..
2 upvotes
Allison Turner
couldn't agree more
0 upvotes
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