Not sure if this has been asked before, but With a population of 111K, Everett is a mid-size city. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Am I wrong here? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
46 upvotes
22 Replies
Mason Smith
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Charlotte 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 Sunset. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in education. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Kayden Lewis
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 13 years. Moved from Charlotte for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Urban sprawl is real. Can feel isolated. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Ava C.
following this thread
39 upvotes
Adeline M.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great Korean places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
38 upvotes
Daniel Taylor
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from San Diego about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Feel free to reach out with questions..
32 upvotes
Santiago Mitchell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 34, moved here 11 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Property taxes are high
3. The walkability situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for young professionals. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Dallas, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
32 upvotes
Evelyn Cook
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
27 upvotes
Leah Thomas
Came here for weather and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The nightlife is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
Sophia Howard
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into running, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
24 upvotes
Silas Stewart
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Thai places. it's been a really good experience overall.
22 upvotes
Declan Reyes
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much wild but now it's surprisingly good.
21 upvotes
Daniel F.
spot on
19 upvotes
Aiden Chavez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 13 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
18 upvotes
Charlotte S.
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Asian places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
17 upvotes
Kaylee W.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
17 upvotes
Anna Campbell
Bought a house here in 2019 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
17 upvotes
Zoey Jones
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 26, moved here 11 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
15 upvotes
real_austin18
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
15 upvotes
Isabelle Diaz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Waylon Allen
This.
4 upvotes
Roger B.
seconding this
2 upvotes
Chloe Mitchell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 57, moved here 10 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Fairview and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - 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 stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. tough vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 San Francisco, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
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