Curious what people think. I'm a college student here and Rent is about $893/month for a decent place. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. What neighborhoods would you suggest? The suburbs are where most families end up. The suburbs are where most families end up. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
19 upvotes
27 Replies
Mateo Castillo
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
37 upvotes
Vivian A.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 35, moved here 14 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Riverside and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The walkability situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Tampa, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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
Santiago M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Atlanta about 11 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
oakland_nevaeh
+1
31 upvotes
Brittany H.
as a local I can confirm
30 upvotes
chill_julian73
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 57, moved here 13 years ago from Houston. I've lived in East and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for remote workers. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Houston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
29 upvotes
Cooper
yep
28 upvotes
Brooklyn Flores
Saving this thread
27 upvotes
Leo Robinson
interesting, hadn't considered that
26 upvotes
Avery J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Carter Castillo
big facts right here
25 upvotes
ella_lover
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Riverside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
23 upvotes
Eleanor Hall
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 2 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into running, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
John T.
noted, appreciate it
22 upvotes
Cora Jimenez
same here
20 upvotes
Bella Ramirez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 50, moved here 2 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Riverside and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The housing market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for singles. decent 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
19 upvotes
Maya Peterson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Greenfield for 13 years. Moved from Minneapolis for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are underrated. 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. Limited high-paying job options. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
18 upvotes
Lillian Young
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in North area are tough. Kids love it here.
15 upvotes
Sofia
not my experience at all
14 upvotes
Autumn
I'm a physical therapist and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
13 upvotes
Leah Ortiz
+1
11 upvotes
Everett Lee
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
10 upvotes
Zoe Baker
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
9 upvotes
Delilah Kelly
big facts right here
6 upvotes
Declan R.
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Diverse dining options
- The cultural scene scene is tough
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited public transit options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
5 upvotes
loving_jeremiah78
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The cost of living is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Would recommend to anyone considering it..
1 upvotes
mountain_sophia27
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 14 years. Moved from New York for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are challenging. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Road conditions need improvement. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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