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Brooklyn S.
housing
Cost of living reality check — Jacksonville
Hey everyone, The unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is pretty low.
14 upvotes
21 Replies
la_lillian
Moved here from San Francisco about 7 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to public transit but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
40 upvotes
Roman Nguyen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 38, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Phoenix, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K 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.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 38, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Great outdoor activities nearby
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Phoenix, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K 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.
35 upvotes
Anna Gomez
Saving this thread
33 upvotes
Camila Richardson
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much wild but now it's underrated.
31 upvotes
Amelia S.
couldn't agree more
31 upvotes
Adeline A.
as a local I can confirm
29 upvotes
Betty A.
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great BBQ places. the quality of life is solid.
28 upvotes
Nicholas
I work in education here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is improving. Feel free to reach out with questions..
25 upvotes
Ruth N.
I've lived in Eastside for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- The outdoor recreation scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- The outdoor recreation scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
Abigail Ross
noted, appreciate it
23 upvotes
William
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
20 upvotes
oaklandkid2024
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 24, moved here 4 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Midtown and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Can feel isolated
3. The healthcare situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Houston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K 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.
Background: I'm a chef, 24, moved here 4 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Midtown and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Can feel isolated
3. The healthcare situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Houston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K 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.
18 upvotes
Harper Allen
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Korean places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
15 upvotes
Easton C.
I've lived in Old Town for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
- The cost of living scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
- The cost of living scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
14 upvotes
Emily M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
14 upvotes
Jaxon P.
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
13 upvotes
tulsapapa2022
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 48, moved here 9 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Oak Park and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for families. challenging 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 Chicago, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
Background: I'm a writer, 48, moved here 9 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Oak Park and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for families. challenging 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 Chicago, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
12 upvotes
Zoey Martin
I work in finance here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is average. Feel free to reach out with questions..
6 upvotes
Evan Ruiz
good to know, thanks
3 upvotes
Joseph S.
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
0 upvotes
Emilia B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
0 upvotes