Alright, Military spouse here. Household incomes average around $54,195 in Kokomo. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What do you all think? The weather takes some getting used to. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
5 upvotes
29 Replies
Easton Allen
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 15 years. Moved from Dallas for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is decent - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are excellent. 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 shopping options. Homeless population growing downtown. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Jackson Kelly
Came here for family and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The pet-friendliness is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
38 upvotes
Ellie Reyes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 58, moved here 6 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Uptown and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The walkability situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Austin, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
36 upvotes
Amelia Cruz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 4 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
33 upvotes
Matthew D.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Oak Park. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in engineering. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
33 upvotes
Mackenzie Collins
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely improving and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation 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.
32 upvotes
Madelyn Morales
not my experience at all
31 upvotes
Hailey Harris
I work in hospitality here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is hit or miss. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
30 upvotes
Liam
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
29 upvotes
Mateo Hill
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
28 upvotes
Connor Allen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 32, moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Downtown and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The food scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. solid vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
27 upvotes
Lydia
underrated comment
27 upvotes
Alice Hughes
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
27 upvotes
Isaiah Parker
yeah no that's not right
24 upvotes
portlandlover2022
I've lived in West for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The pet-friendliness scene is average
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Emilia Reed
Moved here last year, no regrets.
23 upvotes
Mason
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 26, moved here 6 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Lakewood and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Tampa, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
23 upvotes
Hunter Carter
Moved here from Portland about 4 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to nightlife but Feel free to reach out with questions..
22 upvotes
Bennett Bennett
this is the way
20 upvotes
Gabriel Campbell
Bought a house here in 2017 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone about the same since then.
20 upvotes
Savannah W.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
20 upvotes
Cameron Brown
Moved here last year, no regrets.
19 upvotes
Brielle C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 2 years. Moved from San Francisco for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Property taxes are high. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Betty G.
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much developing but now it's solid.
16 upvotes
zoey_kid
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
15 upvotes
Kinsley Long
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
15 upvotes
Alice Richardson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 13 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
10 upvotes
Emma Reed
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 12 years. Moved from New York for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is solid - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Can feel isolated. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes
Julian Young
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely tough and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (South) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
All Countries
