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Nolan Perez living

Day-to-day life in Elizabeth, NJ

Curious what people think. I'm retired and The median home value here is around $393,500, which seems about average. Poverty rate is 11.6%, which is around average. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Has anyone dealt with this? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
27 upvotes

23 Replies

Elijah Long
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely tough and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Sunset) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.

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.
39 upvotes
Dominic Foster
seconding this
39 upvotes
Bella Rogers
couldn't agree more
38 upvotes
Russell F.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value housing market, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely underrated and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.

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.
31 upvotes
David Garcia
bump
31 upvotes
Cameron Brooks
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Charlotte it's excellent.
30 upvotes
David Gomez
Bought a house here in 2024 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
28 upvotes
Amelia Reed
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The housing market is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Grace Peterson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.

Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.

People: Generally improving. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Asian.

Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
26 upvotes
Julia Garcia
I've lived in Uptown for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
- The weather scene is hit or miss

The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Bugs and humidity in summer

Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Genesis Green
I've lived in Lakewood for about 11 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 Charlotte, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Diverse dining options
- Strong sense of community
- The cost of living scene is surprisingly good

The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown

Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Happy to answer more specific questions..
24 upvotes
mountain_theodore5
This.
20 upvotes
Billy J.
I've lived in Midtown for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- The weather scene is tough

The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Road conditions need improvement

Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Theodore Morales
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a chef who relocated here from Seattle about 6 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.

Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good healthcare facilities
- Close to major attractions

Cons that are real:
- Limited shopping options
- Dating scene is rough

Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are growing, gas is solid.

Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
17 upvotes
John Garcia
+1
16 upvotes
Ian Nelson
it depends on the neighborhood
14 upvotes
John Brown
lol so true
13 upvotes
Eleanor Patel
big facts right here
10 upvotes
Aurora Flores
I've lived in The Heights for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- The nightlife scene is better than expected

The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Dating scene is rough

Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
5 upvotes
Elizabeth Hill
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
4 upvotes
Alexander D.
nah I disagree
3 upvotes
Abigail L.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value job market, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Eastside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.

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.
3 upvotes
David Jimenez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
3 upvotes
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