So, I'm a college student here and It's a a smaller city city with about 34,506 people. Rent is about $968/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $169,600, which is actually reasonable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Would love some local perspective. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
6 upvotes
29 Replies
Joshua R.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Italian places. it was the best decision I ever made.
40 upvotes
Nicholas C.
nah I disagree
38 upvotes
Lucy Edwards
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 4 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
35 upvotes
Riley
I've lived in Downtown for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- The cultural scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Ariana Cox
This.
35 upvotes
Weston Cook
I work in manufacturing here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is tough. Good luck with whatever you decide..
34 upvotes
vegasvibes2021
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Ian B.
Came here for school and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor recreation is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
Kayden Nelson
haha yep pretty much
30 upvotes
Madeline
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
29 upvotes
atllocal2024
I work in healthcare here and it's exactly what I was looking for. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Hope this helps!.
29 upvotes
Kai Cox
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Portland about 12 years ago. The main reasons were school and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is solid.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Waylon Foster
I've lived in South for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Phoenix, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The school system scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
27 upvotes
Vivian D.
seconding this
23 upvotes
Ariana Lewis
exactly what I was thinking
22 upvotes
Alice Howard
Bought a house here in 2016 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
21 upvotes
Amelia Phillips
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
21 upvotes
Peyton Kim
underrated comment
19 upvotes
Madeline R.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cultural scene. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
17 upvotes
Matthew J.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Atlanta about 11 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are affordable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
John Davis
it depends on the neighborhood
13 upvotes
raised_mateo59
yeah no that's not right
12 upvotes
clara_rider
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Definitely worth checking out..
12 upvotes
Lucy Lee
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely excellent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Sunset) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
11 upvotes
Andrew D.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great sushi places. the quality of life is solid.
7 upvotes
Austin Taylor
spot on
6 upvotes
Jose Perez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 58, moved here 10 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Lakewood and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The healthcare situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Miami, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
3 upvotes
seattlevibes2020
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
3 upvotes
Sofia
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is traffic. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
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