I'm single, late 50s, and Median household income is $82,562, which feels pretty solid for the area. Rent is about $1,117/month for a decent place. It's a a small town city with about 12,589 people. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Am I overthinking this? The city has invested a lot in new development. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
11 upvotes
9 Replies
Jameson Watson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 48, moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Sunset and Lakewood, 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 airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 San Francisco, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
37 upvotes
portland_allison
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
36 upvotes
Carter Gonzalez
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
John
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Waylon
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much developing but now it's decent.
20 upvotes
Ella Phillips
interesting, hadn't considered that
19 upvotes
Stella M.
bump
13 upvotes
Matthew C.
glad someone said it
12 upvotes
Eleanor B.
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
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