I'm a teacher here and It's a a mid-size city city with about 198K people. Average temperature is around 51°F, so expect cold winters. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. What do you all think? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
12 upvotes
9 Replies
Sarah
I work in real estate here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is better than expected. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
31 upvotes
urban_mia52
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Gabriel
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in legal. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Hope this helps!.
19 upvotes
real_alice76
I'm a software engineer and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
19 upvotes
Hazel Gray
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
17 upvotes
Lucy Thomas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Eastside. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
Charles C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Charlotte about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Luke Mitchell
glad someone said it
5 upvotes
kc_avery
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Maple Ridge area are decent. Kids love it here.
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