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Maya Lewis
living
Is Lexington a good place to live?
Hi all, Household incomes average around $219,402 in Lexington. What are your go-to spots? TIA!
4 upvotes
15 Replies
Ruby Foster
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Boston about 15 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are affordable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Boston about 15 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are affordable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
36 upvotes
Jace R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 24, moved here 5 years ago from Houston. I've lived in West and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Houston, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
Background: I'm a accountant, 24, moved here 5 years ago from Houston. I've lived in West and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Houston, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
33 upvotes
Sarah
Used to live on the Meadowbrook side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
33 upvotes
Paisley Perez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 12 years. Moved from Raleigh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2023 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. finance 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are average. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Homeless population growing downtown. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in The Heights for 12 years. Moved from Raleigh for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2023 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. finance 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are average. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Homeless population growing downtown. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Hudson Jimenez
Bought a house here in 2019 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone about the same since then.
30 upvotes
Aiden Robinson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely pretty good and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living 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.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely pretty good and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living 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.
27 upvotes
Eleanor Martinez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Nashville about 12 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Affordable housing options
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Nashville about 12 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Affordable housing options
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Alice Chavez
been saying this for years
19 upvotes
Aaliyah Green
I'm a social worker and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Valentina Alvarez
seconding this
14 upvotes
Skylar Howard
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Portland about 4 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Portland about 4 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are wild, gas is improving.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Good luck with whatever you decide..
13 upvotes
Carter Morgan
I've lived in West for about 5 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 Seattle, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Four distinct seasons
- The traffic scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Hope this helps!.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Four distinct seasons
- The traffic scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for families. Hope this helps!.
9 upvotes
Adeline White
lol so true
7 upvotes
Olivia Kim
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Midtown area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
2 upvotes
Evan C.
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
1 upvotes