OK so With a population of 43,868, Hicksville is a smaller city. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Thoughts? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
13 upvotes
24 Replies
Addison Chavez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to San Francisco it's improving.
38 upvotes
Jameson Rivera
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 10 years. Moved from Denver for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly 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:**
engineering is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are excellent. 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. Can feel isolated. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Victoria Hill
Bought a house here in 2016 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
37 upvotes
Arianna G.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
36 upvotes
Harper Phillips
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in legal. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Samuel H.
couldn't agree more
35 upvotes
Alexa Reed
Moved here from Houston about 3 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to public transit but Happy to answer more specific questions..
33 upvotes
Connor Williams
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 47, moved here 1 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Greenfield and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
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. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The walkability situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
31 upvotes
Grace Nelson
I work in construction here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Savannah Lopez
I've lived in Uptown for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Charlotte, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The walkability scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
phoenixgirl2020
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Owen Campbell
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely improving and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (North) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
25 upvotes
Luna Brown
good to know, thanks
23 upvotes
Waylon Nelson
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much established but now it's better than expected.
22 upvotes
Zoey Thomas
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 15 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are pretty good. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Not very walkable outside downtown. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Natalie Rodriguez
yep
17 upvotes
cincy_evan
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is underrated in most areas.
17 upvotes
Ezekiel Gonzalez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Phoenix about 2 years ago. The main reasons were family and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are stable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Hudson Wood
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Southern places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
14 upvotes
Quinn Hernandez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from San Francisco about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Happy to answer more specific questions..
11 upvotes
Barbara R.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Minneapolis it's excellent.
8 upvotes
Nathan Scott
exactly what I was thinking
3 upvotes
Grayson Clark
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The weather is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
2 upvotes
Wyatt Long
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely solid and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Springfield) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Homeless population growing downtown.
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.
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