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Sophia White
moving
Considering Fergus Falls vs San Diego -help me decide
Hey everyone, The median home value here is around $173,300, which is actually reasonable.
0 upvotes
14 Replies
Hunter Miller
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in Midtown area are excellent. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
mountain_ethan44
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 51, moved here 9 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Riverside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for young professionals. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 51, moved here 9 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Riverside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for young professionals. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
37 upvotes
bostondude2022
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from New York about 4 years ago. The main reasons were work and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is solid.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from New York about 4 years ago. The main reasons were work and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is solid.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Feel free to reach out with questions..
29 upvotes
Madelyn Evans
great question, following
28 upvotes
Isaiah Cook
it depends on the neighborhood
19 upvotes
Vivian L.
noted, appreciate it
19 upvotes
theodore_runner
glad someone said it
16 upvotes
Willow Nguyen
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
14 upvotes
Emmett Bailey
Totally agree!
13 upvotes
Sophia Ross
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Meadowbrook. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Meadowbrook. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
7 upvotes
Aaron Ward
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
7 upvotes
Miles Watson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 9 years ago. The main reasons were work and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. No regrets on my end..
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 9 years ago. The main reasons were work and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. No regrets on my end..
3 upvotes
Victoria Lee
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely solid and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely solid and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
3 upvotes
Samuel Miller
accurate
2 upvotes