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Carter Baker
living
Day-to-day life in Dedham, MA
The weather takes some getting used to. Worth the trade-offs? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
11 upvotes
23 Replies
Kai Diaz
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
Ethan White
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Jacob Hughes
Bought a house here in 2015 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone about the same since then.
36 upvotes
Isaac Jones
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
34 upvotes
Thomas R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 27, moved here 15 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Downtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
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. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cost of living situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Miami, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
Background: I'm a chef, 27, moved here 15 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Downtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
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. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The cost of living situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Miami, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
32 upvotes
Ava Collins
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Indian.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Indian.
No regrets on my end..
29 upvotes
James B.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
27 upvotes
Noah G.
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Lakewood area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
26 upvotes
Leonardo Reed
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much affordable but now it's decent.
25 upvotes
Avery M.
haha yep pretty much
18 upvotes
Lillian White
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
17 upvotes
Rylee Miller
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
16 upvotes
Mason Roberts
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the Downtown side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
15 upvotes
Cameron Patel
same here
14 upvotes
Santiago Johnson
as a local I can confirm
14 upvotes
Melanie Torres
accurate
11 upvotes
Serenity Jackson
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor recreation is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
milwaukee_jackson
underrated comment
10 upvotes
Jacob R.
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
10 upvotes
Wesley Chavez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
6 upvotes
Skylar Reyes
Moved here from Raleigh about 14 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to food scene but Happy to answer more specific questions..
2 upvotes
Aurora R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Baltimore about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are affordable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Baltimore about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are affordable, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Happy to answer more specific questions..
1 upvotes
Valentina Stewart
yep
1 upvotes