So, Rent is about $1,803/month for a decent place. It's a a mid-size city city with about 458K people. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting.
58 upvotes
22 Replies
Audrey
This.
40 upvotes
Aria
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 12 years. Moved from Houston for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. marketing 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 wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have beaches 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 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. Winters are long and cold. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Easton
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 11 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
John Nelson
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
39 upvotes
Violet James
Used to live on the Downtown side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
37 upvotes
Allison Garcia
interesting, hadn't considered that
34 upvotes
Amy M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 8 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. manufacturing 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 have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is solid - 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. Midtown schools are solid. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
Melanie
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The housing market is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
27 upvotes
Xavier Wood
Bought a house here in 2023 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
27 upvotes
Ellie Richardson
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
25 upvotes
Cooper
Moved here from Minneapolis about 7 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to safety but Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Easton Gonzalez
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
22 upvotes
Leonardo Collins
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
21 upvotes
mountain_ethan44
nah I disagree
19 upvotes
Jace F.
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in West area are average. Kids love it here.
17 upvotes
tulsaheart2020
it depends on the neighborhood
14 upvotes
Madeline Wood
Moved here from New York about 11 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to food scene but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
local_rylee40
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
11 upvotes
Kennedy Moore
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
9 upvotes
Naomi Morgan
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
5 upvotes
Emily Clark
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is underrated in most areas.
3 upvotes
Harper T.
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The dating scene is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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