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Caleb Morales housing

Cost of living reality check -Garden City

The unemployment rate is 1.8%, which is pretty low. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Should I be concerned? There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
4 upvotes

11 Replies

Lily Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a contractor, 26, moved here 4 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Eastside and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Property taxes are high
3. The traffic situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: 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 Austin, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K 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.
35 upvotes
Madeline Walker
Saving this thread
30 upvotes
Autumn Bennett
bump
17 upvotes
Deborah L.
spot on
16 upvotes
Aurora
Came here for work and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor recreation is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
12 upvotes
Adrian Nelson
literally same
9 upvotes
Owen Martin
100%
9 upvotes
Xavier Johnson
Saving this thread
8 upvotes
nevaeh_vibes
preach
7 upvotes
Zoey Hernandez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.

I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is pretty good.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
Victoria H.
yep
1 upvotes
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