So, It's a a smaller city city with about 34,003 people. The median home value here is around $129,100, which is actually reasonable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
1 upvotes
16 Replies
Everett Torres
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
39 upvotes
Camila Jones
facts
36 upvotes
Lily
100%
24 upvotes
Emmett Jones
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 44, moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Old Town and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Property taxes are high
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. underrated 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 Atlanta, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$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.
23 upvotes
Mason Moore
+1
22 upvotes
Isabella Alvarez
it depends on the neighborhood
22 upvotes
Ellie Williams
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Hope this helps!.
21 upvotes
sarah_life
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Sunset area are challenging. Kids love it here.
18 upvotes
Adeline S.
Came here for weather and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The safety is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
18 upvotes
Sarah D.
hard disagree but ok
12 upvotes
Cameron
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Raleigh 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 surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
11 upvotes
Thomas
thanks for sharing
6 upvotes
Zoey Ramos
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
ruby_life
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Asian places. it exceeded my expectations.
5 upvotes
sdmama2020
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Mateo Stewart
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 32, moved here 12 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Oak Park and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The cost of living situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 San Diego, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K 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.
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