I'm retired and Poverty rate is 6.1%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,054/month for a decent place. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Is this normal for Lawrence? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
11 upvotes
27 Replies
Clara Parker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 8 years. Moved from San Diego for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2021 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:**
tech is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - 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. Highland 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. Urban sprawl is real. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Nova Peterson
same here
38 upvotes
Mateo
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Portland it's underrated.
36 upvotes
Nora Roberts
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
35 upvotes
Matthew Johnson
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
29 upvotes
Isabelle G.
nah I disagree
29 upvotes
Roger B.
haha yep pretty much
29 upvotes
Vivian King
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Sunset for 11 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2019 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. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Sunset 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Nevaeh King
Bought a house here in 2015 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone about the same since then.
26 upvotes
Emma Garcia
big facts right here
24 upvotes
Daniel G.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Hope this helps!.
24 upvotes
Amanda T.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
24 upvotes
Nevaeh Richardson
interesting, hadn't considered that
22 upvotes
Oliver Murphy
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 33, moved here 13 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in North and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Can feel isolated
3. The cultural scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for couples. average vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Phoenix, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
22 upvotes
Roger H.
I've lived in Sunset for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from New York, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- The community vibe scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Feel free to reach out with questions..
22 upvotes
Bruce H.
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. public transit used to be much manageable but now it's hit or miss.
19 upvotes
Brielle Chavez
I'm a sales manager and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
18 upvotes
Maverick Diaz
I'm a data analyst and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Landon G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Midtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
12 upvotes
Gabriel Reed
honestly same experience here
9 upvotes
Maverick Alvarez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 15 years. Moved from Portland for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. Old Town schools are challenging. 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 high-paying job options. Property taxes are high. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
8 upvotes
native_adeline27
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely tough and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Old Town) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Limited shopping 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.
6 upvotes
Liam Morgan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 26, moved here 5 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Greenfield and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
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. Winters are long and cold
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The job market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Diego, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K 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.
5 upvotes
Caroline Cox
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Nashville about 15 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is tough.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
Zoey M.
hard disagree but ok
1 upvotes
Jacob D.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Compared to Dallas it's improving.
0 upvotes
Mason S.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely decent and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Highland) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
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