Anyone else feel this way? I've been here for 19 years and With a population of 7,722, Jefferson is a small town. Rent is about $1,041/month for a decent place. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Is this normal for Jefferson? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
5 upvotes
12 Replies
Henry Wright
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 28, moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in South and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The nightlife situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $90K-$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.
36 upvotes
Sofia
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 33, moved here 10 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The job market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Miami, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K 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.
34 upvotes
Austin Flores
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The food scene is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Ruth H.
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
30 upvotes
Isabella Chavez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in finance. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Korean.
No regrets on my end..
24 upvotes
Luke Nguyen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Miami about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is underrated.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Alexis W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 41, moved here 8 years ago from LA. I've lived in South and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The job market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 LA, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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
Luca King
This.
11 upvotes
Adam Brown
not my experience at all
8 upvotes
Angel Sanders
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
5 upvotes
Jayden
We moved here with our family and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Schools in Highland area are tough. Kids love it here.
4 upvotes
Ethan Morris
I'm a project manager and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
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