Random thought, I'm retired and Homes are going for about $411,000 on average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What do you all think? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
0 upvotes
13 Replies
Lydia Ross
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
Scarlett M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 58, moved here 1 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in West and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Affordable housing options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited shopping options
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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
Leonardo P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 1 years. Moved from Nashville for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. finance 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 was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Midtown schools are hit or miss. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Far from beaches/mountains. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Everly Hernandez
underrated comment
29 upvotes
Mackenzie Thompson
yep
21 upvotes
Asher Jackson
I've lived in East for about 2 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The housing market scene is solid
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Brooklyn J.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 14 years. Moved from Minneapolis for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly 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:**
construction is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. East schools are pretty good. 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. Winters are long and cold. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Scarlett P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Definitely worth checking out..
16 upvotes
Adrian Rogers
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great BBQ places. the quality of life is solid.
16 upvotes
Kaylee Adams
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
12 upvotes
Shirley W.
I've lived in Meadowbrook for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- The healthcare scene is improving
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Good luck with whatever you decide..
6 upvotes
Carson Hill
preach
2 upvotes
Luca Adams
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Baltimore 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 South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
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