So, My family moved here when I was a kid. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is pretty low. The city has invested a lot in new development. Thanks! Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
26 upvotes
30 Replies
grace_chef
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
35 upvotes
Henry Ward
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 43, moved here 4 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in South and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Baltimore, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
35 upvotes
Christian Flores
honestly same experience here
35 upvotes
Ralph S.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Uptown. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
Quinn Ramos
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because it was the best decision I ever made. The safety is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
33 upvotes
Maya White
interesting, hadn't considered that
32 upvotes
Victoria Anderson
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Eastside side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
32 upvotes
Nolan H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 29, moved here 14 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Springfield and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for families. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Portland, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K 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.
28 upvotes
Ezra Evans
100%
27 upvotes
Isaac Ward
Came here for family and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The housing market is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
Riley Diaz
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
26 upvotes
Julia Torres
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
25 upvotes
Eva Harris
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
25 upvotes
Noah M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from LA about 6 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
23 upvotes
Alexa M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Minneapolis it's better than expected.
22 upvotes
Dominic
couldn't agree more
20 upvotes
Aaliyah Thompson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 13 years. Moved from San Diego for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is tough - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are excellent. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Jennifer R.
Moved here from Phoenix about 8 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
19 upvotes
Evelyn L.
as a local I can confirm
19 upvotes
Eli Mitchell
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
Gianna Murphy
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
Sophia Murphy
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Definitely worth checking out..
17 upvotes
Maya
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely excellent and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Old Town) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
16 upvotes
Christian Gray
accurate
15 upvotes
Jose G.
nah I disagree
14 upvotes
lake_wyatt2
Can confirm, been here 13 years.
13 upvotes
Mackenzie Murphy
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Good luck with whatever you decide..
7 upvotes
Lucas K.
big facts right here
3 upvotes
Carson
literally same
3 upvotes
Amelia Reed
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
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