Been meaning to ask this. I'm a college student here and It's a a smaller city city with about 29,285 people. With a population of 29,285, Jacksonville is a smaller city. The suburbs are where most families end up. Is this normal for Jacksonville?
22 upvotes
13 Replies
Waylon D.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Oliver Miller
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
31 upvotes
Liam T.
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Indian places. the quality of life is solid.
29 upvotes
Everett
nah I disagree
29 upvotes
Wyatt Walker
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The cultural scene is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Ezra
exactly what I was thinking
15 upvotes
Bella Howard
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
14 upvotes
Caleb Martinez
Hot take but there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
13 upvotes
Parker Brown
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely pretty good and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. job market 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.
13 upvotes
Anthony M.
couldn't agree more
7 upvotes
Luke D.
Can confirm, been here 2 years.
4 upvotes
Serenity Cooper
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
2 upvotes
wesley_dude
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 26, moved here 5 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Oak Park and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Raleigh, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
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