Longtime lurker here, Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
28 upvotes
27 Replies
Avery W.
I work in education here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
Logan Lopez
couldn't agree more
37 upvotes
milwaukee_julia
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 31, moved here 15 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
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. Property taxes are high
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for young professionals. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Atlanta, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K 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.
36 upvotes
Adeline
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 8 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
34 upvotes
Delilah
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 6 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
30 upvotes
Dylan Wright
I work in engineering here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is better than expected. Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Abigail D.
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in West area are decent. Kids love it here.
28 upvotes
Mason
yeah no that's not right
28 upvotes
phoenixgirl2020
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Minneapolis 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 Cedar Grove. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in legal. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Ryan M.
Bought a house here in 2023 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
25 upvotes
Sebastian
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The pet-friendliness is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
25 upvotes
Carson Howard
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
24 upvotes
Josiah Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 34, moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The walkability situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. hit or miss 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
21 upvotes
Zachary E.
not my experience at all
19 upvotes
Eliana G.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Baltimore about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Nightlife is limited
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is improving.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Happy to answer more specific questions..
18 upvotes
Kayden Stewart
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 13 years. Moved from Atlanta for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is decent - 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. Pine Hills 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
15 upvotes
Evan K.
100%
12 upvotes
Harper Cook
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely challenging and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (West) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, 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.
11 upvotes
Leonardo Kim
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
10 upvotes
eli_soul
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
9 upvotes
Ruby James
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 13 years. Moved from LA for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Highland schools are decent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Limited entertainment options. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
Evelyn Cooper
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation 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.
8 upvotes
Lily Robinson
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much manageable but now it's tough.
6 upvotes
Leah W.
spot on
6 upvotes
Weston Long
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 2 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
6 upvotes
Jean P.
Bought a house here in 2023 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone about the same since then.
3 upvotes
Sebastian
I've lived in Downtown for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good internet infrastructure
- The food scene scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. Would recommend to anyone considering it..