Hello, The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is pretty low. You can expect to pay around $1,214 for rent here. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Thanks! It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
0 upvotes
7 Replies
Henry Jones
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 49, moved here 5 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Highland and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for remote workers. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Portland, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
27 upvotes
Noah Green
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
23 upvotes
Jennifer E.
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
22 upvotes
Jacob Thomas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in real estate. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
22 upvotes
Arianna Alvarez
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
11 upvotes
Victoria Perez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
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