Longtime lurker here, Just moved here 1 months ago and The median home value here is around $252,200, which seems about average. Crime rate is something to consider -Hewitt sits at 86.6 per 100K. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Appreciate any input. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
4 upvotes
13 Replies
Maya C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 43, moved here 14 years ago from New York. I've lived in Downtown and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Can feel isolated
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. hit or miss 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 New York, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K 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.
37 upvotes
Cora Adams
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 37, moved here 11 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Downtown and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Limited shopping options
3. The public transit situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for singles. tough vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
34 upvotes
Cora Smith
Bought a house here in 2019 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
33 upvotes
Austin
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
30 upvotes
Noah Price
as a local I can confirm
28 upvotes
Quinn Johnson
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much stable but now it's excellent.
27 upvotes
Grayson Morris
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Riverside area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
27 upvotes
Grace Bailey
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
20 upvotes
Liam Williams
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in North. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in consulting. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
18 upvotes
Jaxon Long
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
10 upvotes
Kaylee Jimenez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (West) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
10 upvotes
Aaron Stewart
exactly what I was thinking
4 upvotes
Lucy
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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