Random thought, Military spouse here. Household incomes average around $163,785 in Fairmount. Crime rate is something to consider -Fairmount sits at 149.6 per 100K. It's a a small town city with about 10,521 people. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What are your go-to spots? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The city has invested a lot in new development. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The suburbs are where most families end up. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
13 upvotes
15 Replies
Caroline Murphy
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
40 upvotes
Mackenzie Flores
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
40 upvotes
Sofia Watson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 52, moved here 12 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Lakewood and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Can feel isolated
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Atlanta, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K 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.
39 upvotes
Hazel Sanchez
couldn't agree more
39 upvotes
Henry
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Raleigh about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are wild, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. No regrets on my end..
34 upvotes
Ella L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 5 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Aurora Ross
I've lived in South for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Four distinct seasons
- The school system scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
25 upvotes
Jose
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 40, moved here 5 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Westside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The weather situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
23 upvotes
Vivian Ramos
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
Abigail C.
glad someone said it
17 upvotes
Noah Kelly
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Adeline Wood
I've lived in Lakewood for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
- The traffic scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
Madelyn Edwards
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Dallas about 2 years ago. The main reasons were weather and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Lots of new development happening
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is improving.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Feel free to reach out with questions..
7 upvotes
Olivia Cooper
Bought a house here in 2024 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
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