OK so I'm a 29-year-old police officer and Poverty rate is 3.3%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,653/month for a decent place. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
1 upvotes
24 Replies
Kayden Torres
Saving this thread
39 upvotes
Aubrey Diaz
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
38 upvotes
Bryan J.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 4 years. Moved from Nashville for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is tough - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are decent. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Dating scene is rough. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
38 upvotes
Isabelle D.
been saying this for years
35 upvotes
Henry Reed
bump
35 upvotes
Nolan S.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
35 upvotes
Hunter Roberts
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 11 years. Moved from Charlotte for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. 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:**
education is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are surprisingly 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. Limited high-paying job options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Greyson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
28 upvotes
Jackson
I've lived in Downtown for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- The healthcare scene is tough
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Elena Martin
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 6 years. Moved from San Diego for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. consulting 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:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Midtown schools are tough. 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. Urban sprawl is real. Homeless population growing downtown. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 7/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
26 upvotes
Christian Wright
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Westside area are tough. Kids love it here.
26 upvotes
Leah Thompson
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone about the same since then.
22 upvotes
Paisley Stewart
I'm a writer and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
21 upvotes
Julian W.
+1
16 upvotes
Riley Williams
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 12 years. Moved from Dallas for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts 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 improving. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Can feel isolated. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Evan Mendoza
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much growing but now it's decent.
12 upvotes
nycnative2020
This.
9 upvotes
Abigail Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 57, moved here 12 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Westside and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The food scene situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for families. improving vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Portland, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K 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.
8 upvotes
Emilia Sanchez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is decent in most areas.
8 upvotes
dallas_colton
accurate
5 upvotes
Hudson Campbell
big facts right here
5 upvotes
Austin Williams
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in legal. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
5 upvotes
Lucy G.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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