Hello, I grew up here but left for a while. You can expect to pay around $1,346 for rent here. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
4 upvotes
3 Replies
Julian
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 43, moved here 11 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Midtown and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The public transit situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Seattle, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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
Jack Hughes
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is community vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
26 upvotes
jax_christian
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 54, moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Uptown and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The walkability situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Charlotte, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
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