Anyone else feel this way? I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Household incomes average around $79,274 in Fridley. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Should I be concerned? I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
23 upvotes
19 Replies
Clara Richardson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in West for 14 years. Moved from Atlanta for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is decent - 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. West schools are improving. 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. Limited public transit options. Limited shopping options. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Austin B.
good to know, thanks
38 upvotes
Mark A.
great question, following
35 upvotes
Mackenzie
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Korean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
33 upvotes
Levi
I'm a project manager and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
31 upvotes
Alice Brown
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The healthcare is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
31 upvotes
omaha_cameron
yeah no that's not right
28 upvotes
Genesis Ortiz
seconding this
28 upvotes
sd_naomi
I'm a social worker and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
27 upvotes
Caleb Smith
This.
27 upvotes
Alexander Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 31, moved here 2 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Uptown and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited public transit options
3. The public transit situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Denver, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
25 upvotes
bostongirl2024
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from San Francisco 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 Pine Hills. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Hope this helps!.
15 upvotes
true_harper78
seconding this
12 upvotes
Addison Bennett
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 8 years. Moved from Atlanta for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. 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 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is solid - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are hit or miss. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Homeless population growing downtown. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
11 upvotes
Xavier Young
Moved here from Portland about 13 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to traffic but Hope this helps!.
10 upvotes
Adrian Wright
I'm a pharmacist and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
4 upvotes
Serenity M.
I'm a accountant and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
philly_alexander
glad someone said it
1 upvotes
James R.
Bought a house here in 2022 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
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