OK so The median home value here is around $504,200, which is pretty steep. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Am I wrong here? The suburbs are where most families end up. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
13 upvotes
14 Replies
Samuel Anderson
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in The Heights area are tough. Kids love it here.
38 upvotes
Emily Hall
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Sunset) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
38 upvotes
Riley Murphy
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 15 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
26 upvotes
Brenda C.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely solid and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
25 upvotes
Megan G.
bump
25 upvotes
Daniel R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 14 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into running, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
23 upvotes
joseph_life
not my experience at all
22 upvotes
Sarah Moore
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Southern places. it exceeded my expectations.
22 upvotes
Allison Morgan
I've lived in Sunset for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- The nightlife scene is solid
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
21 upvotes
Caroline Murphy
This.
13 upvotes
William Thomas
facts
11 upvotes
Frank C.
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is community vibe. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
river_amelia94
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Boston about 14 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is tough.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
3 upvotes
isabelle_kid
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
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