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Cost of living reality check -Jenks
Hello, Thanks in advance! There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
22 upvotes
11 Replies
Katherine Kelly
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 27, moved here 4 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in West and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Nashville, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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 teacher, 27, moved here 4 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in West and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Nashville, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
38 upvotes
Sebastian Phillips
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much established but now it's pretty good.
36 upvotes
Nevaeh M.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The food scene is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
Allison Walker
I'm a software engineer and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Hannah P.
this is the way
23 upvotes
Addison
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 2 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 2 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
21 upvotes
raised_aiden55
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The cost of living is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
21 upvotes
Addison E.
I've lived in Maple Ridge for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- The walkability scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- The walkability scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Andrew Allen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in education. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in education. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
17 upvotes
Alice Martinez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 52, moved here 9 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Property taxes are high
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for retirees. tough 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 LA, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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 lawyer, 52, moved here 9 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Property taxes are high
3. The healthcare situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for retirees. tough 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 LA, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
11 upvotes
Zoey T.
I've lived in South for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
- The pet-friendliness scene is solid
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
- The pet-friendliness scene is solid
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
2 upvotes