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Amy G.
best-worst
Best and worst neighborhoods in Franklin
Hi all, I work in tech and The weather takes some getting used to.
13 upvotes
12 Replies
Anna Howard
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (East) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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 school system, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (East) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
38 upvotes
Natalie M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to San Diego it's hit or miss.
37 upvotes
Olivia J.
I've lived in Midtown for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- The walkability scene is decent
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good healthcare facilities
- The walkability scene is decent
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
35 upvotes
Eliana Jackson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from San Francisco about 2 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
I'm a electrician who relocated here from San Francisco about 2 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
34 upvotes
Jack Martinez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 51, moved here 13 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Eastside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Houston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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 software engineer, 51, moved here 13 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Eastside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Houston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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.
33 upvotes
Miles Nguyen
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
26 upvotes
Lucas C.
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
12 upvotes
Zoe R.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Lucas Phillips
I've lived in Old Town for about 6 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 New York, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Decent public transit for the size
- The walkability scene is tough
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Decent public transit for the size
- The walkability scene is tough
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
9 upvotes
Amelia Cruz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
5 upvotes
Melanie Chavez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 51, moved here 12 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Oak Park and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
Background: I'm a social worker, 51, moved here 12 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Oak Park and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
4 upvotes
Jeremiah Cooper
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 11 years. Moved from Atlanta for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge schools are solid. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited entertainment options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 11 years. Moved from Atlanta for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge schools are solid. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Not very walkable outside downtown. Limited entertainment options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes