Hey folks, I'm retired and Rent is about $1,316/month for a decent place. It's a a smaller city city with about 40,981 people. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Any advice would be great.
12 upvotes
13 Replies
Naomi Cox
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 42, moved here 5 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Seattle, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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
Melanie Parker
Moved here last year, no regrets.
30 upvotes
Aria Diaz
Moved here from Atlanta about 15 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to cultural scene but Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Joseph
Moved here last year, no regrets.
22 upvotes
Liam P.
bump
18 upvotes
Lucy Cooper
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Highland) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Limited entertainment 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.
17 upvotes
Rylee H.
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in Cedar Grove area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
16 upvotes
Connor Foster
I work in engineering here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is better than expected. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
15 upvotes
Wyatt P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in government. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
ezekiel_dude
been saying this for years
13 upvotes
Peter L.
great question, following
8 upvotes
Ezra Adams
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
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