OK so I'm originally from St. Louis and It's a a smaller city city with about 73,507 people. Median household income is $54,069, which feels on the lower side for the area. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Would love some local perspective. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development.
5 upvotes
29 Replies
Autumn Allen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Jordan M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is excellent in most areas.
38 upvotes
Nora J.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is decent in most areas.
35 upvotes
Sophia Brown
Came here for cost of living and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The food scene is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
35 upvotes
Everly D.
Bought a house here in 2022 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone about the same since then.
34 upvotes
Ellie Reed
Bought a house here in 2024 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
31 upvotes
Aubrey Wilson
honestly same experience here
30 upvotes
audrey_heart
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is traffic. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
29 upvotes
Claire Carter
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is nightlife. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Emmett Mitchell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 26, moved here 13 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in West and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. challenging 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 Raleigh, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K 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.
27 upvotes
brielle_chef
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much growing but now it's challenging.
25 upvotes
Waylon Rivera
glad someone said it
25 upvotes
Daniel Williams
Came here for work and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The healthcare is honestly pretty good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
25 upvotes
Addison Ortiz
I've lived in Westside for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- The dating scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Luna
I'm a contractor and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
24 upvotes
Everly Rivera
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 4 years. Moved from Phoenix for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly 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:**
construction is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside 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. Rising rent and home prices. Dating scene is rough. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
23 upvotes
Allison S.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 1 years. Moved from San Francisco for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2019 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering 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 improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have lakes 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 hit or miss. 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 very walkable outside downtown. Far from beaches/mountains. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Owen Gomez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 35, moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in The Heights and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. challenging 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 San Francisco, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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
Grayson T.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Southern.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
19 upvotes
Eva Wright
+1
15 upvotes
Jameson Lee
exactly what I was thinking
13 upvotes
Rylee G.
as a local I can confirm
12 upvotes
Peyton Roberts
nah I disagree
12 upvotes
tucsonvibes2020
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 9 years. Moved from Seattle for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Pine Hills 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. Road conditions need improvement. Limited entertainment options. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, 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.
12 upvotes
Mason Collins
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
11 upvotes
Jordan Hall
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is underrated in most areas.
11 upvotes
Hunter Price
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
7 upvotes
Weston Williams
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
6 upvotes
Wesley Ward
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
All Countries
