Hey folks, With a population of 43,747, Hickory is a smaller city. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is pretty low. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Any advice would be great. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The suburbs are where most families end up. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The weather takes some getting used to. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The weather takes some getting used to. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
14 upvotes
14 Replies
Lauren P.
I've lived in Meadowbrook for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The housing market scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
39 upvotes
Evan Turner
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Hope this helps!.
37 upvotes
Madison B.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 14 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 pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
36 upvotes
Jack W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
33 upvotes
Sophie Hernandez
wish I knew this sooner
24 upvotes
Jonathan Wood
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Jace Gutierrez
I work in education here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is challenging. Definitely worth checking out..
22 upvotes
Adrian Nelson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Highland) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene 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.
21 upvotes
Caroline A.
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
14 upvotes
Kennedy Reed
hmm interesting perspective
13 upvotes
born_charlotte83
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it's been a really good experience overall.
12 upvotes
Kennedy Adams
Bought a house here in 2018 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
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