Curious what people think. We have two kids and Median household income is $50,994, which feels on the lower side for the area. The weather takes some getting used to. What would you do? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
36 upvotes
14 Replies
Melanie Hernandez
nah I disagree
40 upvotes
jose_fan
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from Charlotte about 11 years ago. The main reasons were weather and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Close to major attractions
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is tough.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Connor L.
Used to live on the West side, now on the Old Town side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
36 upvotes
mountain_ezekiel99
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 8 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Janice S.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is solid in most areas.
34 upvotes
Caroline Mitchell
I work in hospitality here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is improving. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
25 upvotes
Maya Baker
Came here for school and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The school system is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
25 upvotes
stlmind2021
This.
24 upvotes
Sadie M.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Old Town. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
17 upvotes
Wyatt Martin
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Chicago about 5 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is better than expected.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. No regrets on my end..
13 upvotes
Leonardo Sanchez
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much wild but now it's improving.
13 upvotes
Chloe Jones
+1
6 upvotes
Bella Jimenez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 9 years. Moved from Baltimore for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2017 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are decent. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
6 upvotes
Leonardo Kim
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in real estate. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
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