Curious what people think. We have two kids and Rent is about $1,902/month for a decent place. It's a a mid-size city city with about 210K people. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Thoughts?
22 upvotes
14 Replies
Michael Sanders
I work in education here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is improving. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
36 upvotes
Daniel King
I'm a teacher and I've found I love the pace of life here. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
27 upvotes
Scarlett Edwards
been saying this for years
26 upvotes
oaklandheart2020
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
20 upvotes
Nora
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
20 upvotes
Olivia Ramos
accurate
19 upvotes
Leonardo Morales
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
19 upvotes
Wesley Flores
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 32, moved here 1 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Maple Ridge and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Active local events and festivals
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. Winters are long and cold
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The community vibe situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for families. surprisingly good 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
17 upvotes
Emilia W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 9 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Close to major attractions
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Good luck with whatever you decide..
17 upvotes
Alexa
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to Austin it's improving.
16 upvotes
Lucy Morales
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
10 upvotes
Levi Cruz
Came here for weather and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor recreation is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
9 upvotes
Colton L.
I've lived in Westside for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The cultural scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
5 upvotes
Hunter Cook
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 26, moved here 8 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
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