Hey, I'm single, late 20s, and It's a a small town city with about 13,863 people. Median household income is $101,250, which feels pretty solid for the area. Property taxes are high but you get good services. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. What would you do? The city has invested a lot in new development.
5 upvotes
9 Replies
Olivia G.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Elena Nguyen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Seattle about 11 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is average.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
Rylee Castillo
underrated comment
17 upvotes
Kinsley H.
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much wild but now it's solid.
17 upvotes
Ian
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Leo Gonzalez
been saying this for years
8 upvotes
Jacob Morris
facts
5 upvotes
Jonathan Wilson
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
5 upvotes
Savannah B.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 1 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
All Countries
