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Sebastian Nelson
qa
Best areas to explore in Kent?
OK so It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Anyone in a similar situation?
55 upvotes
4 Replies
Allison
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 49, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited shopping options
3. The public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K 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 data analyst, 49, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Fairview and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Limited shopping options
3. The public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K 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.
32 upvotes
Everett Peterson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 8 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. No regrets on my end..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Houston about 8 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. No regrets on my end..
22 upvotes
Nevaeh H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Fairview. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Fairview. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Everett
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 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 1-bed in Downtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Downtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
18 upvotes