Longtime lurker here, I grew up here but left for a while. Median household income is $37,380, which feels on the lower side for the area. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
28 upvotes
20 Replies
Carol H.
The food scene here is average. Tons of great craft beer places. it was the best decision I ever made.
40 upvotes
Henry Rivera
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
36 upvotes
Kayden Sanders
same here
35 upvotes
Timothy M.
yeah no that's not right
35 upvotes
Clara King
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much established but now it's better than expected.
34 upvotes
Jaxon Allen
hmm interesting perspective
33 upvotes
Alexa Cook
seconding this
32 upvotes
Theodore C.
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
jaxrider2024
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
Adrian
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely improving and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit 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.
27 upvotes
Nevaeh Reed
lol so true
27 upvotes
Axel
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 4 years. Moved from Seattle for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is tough - we have biking trails 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 surprisingly good. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Urban sprawl is real. And weather 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.
25 upvotes
orlando_isaac
big facts right here
24 upvotes
Ezekiel Reyes
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Uptown area are tough. Kids love it here.
22 upvotes
Aurora C.
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great seafood places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
13 upvotes
sdwalker2020
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 4 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
12 upvotes
Madelyn Cook
I work in education here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is challenging. Feel free to reach out with questions..
12 upvotes
Emmett Hall
following this thread
11 upvotes
Michael
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in West area are tough. Kids love it here.
6 upvotes
Michael Flores
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Cedar Grove. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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