Hey everyone, My family moved here when I was a kid. Homes are going for about $184,200 on average. Median household income is $78,494, which feels about average for the area. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
11 upvotes
15 Replies
Logan B.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
40 upvotes
Isabelle King
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Greenfield side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
39 upvotes
Katherine Green
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is decent in most areas.
37 upvotes
Kenneth R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Houston 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 Lakewood. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Definitely worth checking out..
28 upvotes
Ellie Jones
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely challenging and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Riverside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
26 upvotes
Addison C.
as a local I can confirm
24 upvotes
Cora
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
17 upvotes
Diane J.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely hit or miss and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (South) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
17 upvotes
Cameron Y.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Eastside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in finance. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Definitely worth checking out..
12 upvotes
Isabelle G.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely underrated and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Sunset) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness 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.
9 upvotes
Mackenzie Thompson
thanks for sharing
8 upvotes
Alice White
haha yep pretty much
6 upvotes
Oliver Hill
yeah no that's not right
5 upvotes
Harper Wilson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
3 upvotes
Lucy R.
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 food scene is genuinely challenging and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Highland) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
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