OK so Military spouse here. It's a a small town city with about 14,249 people. Average temperature is around 61--F, so the weather is moderate. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. What neighborhoods would you suggest? The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
3 upvotes
9 Replies
Liam Hall
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 Chicago for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. hospitality 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 been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is underrated - 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. East 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. Winters are long and cold. Dating scene is rough. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Dominic Alvarez
I work in consulting here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is better than expected. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Eliana Perez
preach
33 upvotes
Savannah Collins
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 6 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to weather but Good luck with whatever you decide..
33 upvotes
Adeline Morgan
Moved here last year, no regrets.
20 upvotes
David Watson
not my experience at all
18 upvotes
Leo P.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. weather used to be much established but now it's hit or miss.
5 upvotes
Nolan Reed
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much affordable but now it's hit or miss.
4 upvotes
loving_wesley74
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in The Heights. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in legal. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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