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Hunter Miller
living
Is Glen Carbon getting better or worse?
Random thought, I'm a 48-year-old social worker and With a population of 13,521, Glen Carbon is a small tow
5 upvotes
11 Replies
Eliana R.
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
32 upvotes
Ezekiel Jackson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Happy to answer more specific questions..
23 upvotes
Everly
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much reasonable but now it's challenging.
20 upvotes
Jack H.
I work in government here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is decent. No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
John
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
12 upvotes
Lydia Perez
I work in retail here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is challenging. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Emilia M.
thanks for sharing
9 upvotes
Colton Hill
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely pretty good and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely pretty good and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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
Mateo King
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Atlanta about 10 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a writer who relocated here from Atlanta about 10 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
6 upvotes
nyc_jordan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 58, moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Maple Ridge and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K 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.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 58, moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Maple Ridge and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K 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.
5 upvotes
Sophia J.
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Cedar Grove area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
3 upvotes