Hey folks, It's a a mid-size city city with about 136K people. Median household income is $63,874, which feels about average for the area. With a population of 136K, Elizabeth is a mid-size city. The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up.
21 upvotes
7 Replies
Bella Peterson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 47, moved here 7 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Uptown and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The healthcare situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for families. tough 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 Houston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
38 upvotes
Isabelle Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 52, moved here 8 years ago from New York. I've lived in Highland and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The nightlife situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 New York, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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
Waylon Ramos
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in legal. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
24 upvotes
Madeline Walker
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Fairview area are average. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
Lillian Green
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the Midtown side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
17 upvotes
robert_girl
noted, appreciate it
15 upvotes
Lucas Reed
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
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