Been meaning to ask this. I'm retired and Rent is about $2,075/month for a decent place. The unemployment rate is 1.2%, which is pretty low. With a population of 25,824, Key West is a smaller city. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. What would you do? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
11 upvotes
29 Replies
Albert W.
hmm interesting perspective
39 upvotes
Quinn Bennett
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to San Francisco it's pretty good.
37 upvotes
Hailey Taylor
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
Grace Ramos
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Italian places. it exceeded my expectations.
33 upvotes
native_kayden55
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Arianna Hughes
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
30 upvotes
Riley Price
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much wild but now it's pretty good.
28 upvotes
Brielle
thanks for sharing
27 upvotes
David M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 15 years. Moved from Houston for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2019 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. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. consulting is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are improving. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Road conditions need improvement. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
27 upvotes
Thomas
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from New York about 5 years ago. The main reasons were work and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Four distinct seasons
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
26 upvotes
Bennett Gomez
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Vietnamese places. it's been a really good experience overall.
26 upvotes
Declan Moore
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely better than expected and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
23 upvotes
Colton Sanchez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely challenging and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Can feel isolated.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
19 upvotes
Brielle R.
facts
19 upvotes
Savannah C.
hmm interesting perspective
17 upvotes
Hannah G.
Bought a house here in 2015 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone about the same since then.
15 upvotes
Wesley Morris
good to know, thanks
12 upvotes
Zoey James
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is improving in most areas.
11 upvotes
Michael M.
hmm interesting perspective
10 upvotes
Julia
I'm a social worker and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
9 upvotes
David
literally same
8 upvotes
Elijah Jackson
Bought a house here in 2022 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
7 upvotes
Thomas Rodriguez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 3 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
5 upvotes
Chloe K.
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the Meadowbrook side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
5 upvotes
jose_vibes
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in tech. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
4 upvotes
Avery Martinez
underrated comment
3 upvotes
Weston J.
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 12 years. Moved from Nashville for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2016 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have rivers 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 better than expected. 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. Limited public transit options. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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