Anyone else feel this way? I'm a teacher here and Rent is about $912/month for a decent place. Median household income is $55,052, which feels about average for the area. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, which is pretty low. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
30 upvotes
9 Replies
born_lydia42
great question, following
24 upvotes
Anna H.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Julia Scott
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
18 upvotes
Kayden Cruz
as a local I can confirm
12 upvotes
Luke L.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Fairview. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
Parker Morris
I've lived in West 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 Charlotte, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Active local events and festivals
- The healthcare scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Ruby B.
following this thread
7 upvotes
Daniel R.
bump
2 upvotes
Elijah Ward
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 12 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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