Curious what people think. My family moved here when I was a kid. The unemployment rate is 5.7%, which is about average. It's a a mid-size city city with about 105K people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Thanks! Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
6 upvotes
8 Replies
Oliver Phillips
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 35, moved here 12 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in East and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. decent 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 Minneapolis, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K 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.
40 upvotes
Levi Torres
seconding this
39 upvotes
Riley Walker
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
27 upvotes
Sarah M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
24 upvotes
Amanda L.
Used to live on the East side, now on the Downtown side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
23 upvotes
Avery James
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great craft beer places. it's been a really good experience overall.
19 upvotes
Ethan Gray
wish I knew this sooner
3 upvotes
Jackson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
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