It's a a smaller city city with about 99,232 people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. What would you do?
10 upvotes
9 Replies
Mason B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 25, moved here 9 years ago from New York. I've lived in Old Town and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for families. decent 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 New York, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$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.
38 upvotes
Sarah Howard
hmm interesting perspective
37 upvotes
Carson Bennett
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
32 upvotes
nycwalker2022
This.
30 upvotes
dallasheart2020
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 43, moved here 6 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Sunset and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Strong job market in several industries
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. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Austin, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
24 upvotes
Jacob Morales
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (South) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
22 upvotes
Serenity Nguyen
it depends on the neighborhood
7 upvotes
Cameron
Came here for retirement and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The job market is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
5 upvotes
Andrew
I've lived in Sunset for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- The safety scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
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