Curious what people think. The median home value here is around $374,200, which seems about average. The unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is about average. Household incomes average around $65,359 in Hollywood. Median household income is $65,359, which feels about average for the area. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The suburbs are where most families end up. Any advice would be great. Thanks for reading. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The suburbs are where most families end up. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
34 upvotes
29 Replies
Willie M.
underrated comment
40 upvotes
Nolan Moore
bump
39 upvotes
Isaiah P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 39, moved here 7 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Downtown and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The pet-friendliness situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K 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.
39 upvotes
Clara
exactly what I was thinking
38 upvotes
Maya Torres
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
36 upvotes
Thomas R.
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The public transit is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Isabelle Ortiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
35 upvotes
Angel W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 11 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
29 upvotes
dallasheart2020
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much stable but now it's challenging.
27 upvotes
Rylee Gutierrez
facts
26 upvotes
Olivia
glad someone said it
26 upvotes
Grace Young
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
25 upvotes
Isaac Martinez
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is community vibe. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Aria
glad someone said it
24 upvotes
Axel Rivera
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
23 upvotes
mountain_logan70
this is the way
21 upvotes
Everly Ramos
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 50, moved here 6 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Springfield and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The safety situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$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.
19 upvotes
Andrew W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 4 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
17 upvotes
Austin E.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in South. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Mia Watson
same here
13 upvotes
Sofia Cook
honestly same experience here
13 upvotes
aiden_guy
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 14 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
David Jimenez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Minneapolis about 10 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are growing, gas is decent.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Charlotte T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 57, moved here 15 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Westside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The walkability situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Nashville, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$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.
6 upvotes
Piper Bailey
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in education. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
detroitvibes2022
haha yep pretty much
4 upvotes
Naomi Brown
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Midtown area are solid. Kids love it here.
3 upvotes
Xavier C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
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