Hi all, The median home value here is around $174,800, which is actually reasonable. Rent is about $968/month for a decent place. You can expect to pay around $968 for rent here. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this? People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
22 upvotes
11 Replies
Colton Gutierrez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely average and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
35 upvotes
Ellie Rogers
haha yep pretty much
33 upvotes
Madeline
Bought a house here in 2023 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
31 upvotes
Mateo T.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Denver it's average.
29 upvotes
Everly Miller
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Definitely worth checking out..
23 upvotes
Arianna B.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Vietnamese places. I love the pace of life here.
17 upvotes
Beverly M.
spot on
13 upvotes
Connor Mitchell
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
10 upvotes
Asher Smith
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
10 upvotes
John Ward
I've lived in East for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
- The weather scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Happy to answer more specific questions..
6 upvotes
Nevaeh Richardson
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
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