Alright, I relocated for work and Median household income is $131,436, which feels pretty solid for the area. Average temperature is around 63--F, so the weather is moderate. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
4 upvotes
23 Replies
Logan Mitchell
yeah no that's not right
40 upvotes
Connor Hill
I've been living here for 15 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The nightlife is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Nora C.
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: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Robert K.
100%
34 upvotes
Grace Ruiz
I'm a real estate agent and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
34 upvotes
sarah_heart
The food scene here is average. Tons of great sushi places. it exceeded my expectations.
32 upvotes
Sarah W.
Can confirm, been here 3 years.
32 upvotes
Thomas Ross
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cost of living, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
30 upvotes
Evan Reed
spot on
29 upvotes
Willie R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 54, moved here 15 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Greenfield and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good 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 Nashville, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
29 upvotes
Roman Campbell
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 14 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into running, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
28 upvotes
Adeline Reyes
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
19 upvotes
Santiago Alvarez
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
19 upvotes
Violet Ortiz
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
15 upvotes
Wesley T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 55, moved here 1 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Pine Hills and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The community vibe situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for young professionals. decent 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 Boston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K 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.
14 upvotes
Genesis Myers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in North. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
14 upvotes
Jackson Young
this is the way
14 upvotes
Isabella Richardson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
wild_logan9
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is excellent in most areas.
11 upvotes
Hazel Richardson
bump
9 upvotes
Skylar H.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The dating scene is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
7 upvotes
Claire W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 4 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is average.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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