Been meaning to ask this. Been living here since 2009. You can expect to pay around $1,299 for rent here. Average temperature is around 57--F, so the weather is moderate. The city has invested a lot in new development. What would you do? Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
21 upvotes
22 Replies
Harper Price
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is underrated in most areas.
38 upvotes
Vivian B.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 10 years. Moved from Charlotte for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. government 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are underrated. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Property taxes are high. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Nancy A.
nah I disagree
37 upvotes
Eugene S.
not my experience at all
37 upvotes
Vincent J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 56, moved here 1 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Sunset and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The traffic situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Boston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K 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
Emilia W.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Miami it's solid.
32 upvotes
phoenixnative2021
yep
30 upvotes
Angel M.
hard disagree but ok
28 upvotes
Dylan Clark
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
25 upvotes
Paisley Lewis
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely decent and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Fairview) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living 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.
23 upvotes
Hailey Evans
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
22 upvotes
Maverick
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Southern places. it was the best decision I ever made.
21 upvotes
Scarlett Campbell
hard disagree but ok
20 upvotes
Scarlett Hill
following this thread
20 upvotes
Nora P.
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
17 upvotes
Leo Cooper
Came here for weather and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The housing market is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
17 upvotes
Greyson T.
I work in government here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is pretty good. Hope this helps!.
15 upvotes
sunny_mackenzie95
same here
14 upvotes
Landon Roberts
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much pricey but now it's average.
10 upvotes
loving_liam65
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in The Heights. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Hope this helps!.
9 upvotes
Peyton
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The outdoor recreation is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
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