I'm single, late 40s, and Rent is about $1,919/month for a decent place. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. What would you do? Cheers. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
13 upvotes
11 Replies
Jack Martinez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Portland about 12 years ago. The main reasons were school and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are manageable, gas is tough.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
39 upvotes
seattledude2024
big facts right here
36 upvotes
Addison Ramos
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
34 upvotes
Emmett C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 55, moved here 9 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Highland and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The weather situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for couples. pretty good 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 Boston, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
30 upvotes
Aria
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in legal. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
26 upvotes
Landon Torres
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Old Town. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Noah Gray
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Mexican places. I love the pace of life here.
18 upvotes
Lucas Wright
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
Benjamin Turner
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 5 years. Moved from Nashville for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is pretty good - 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. Cedar Grove 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not very walkable outside downtown. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Ethan Bennett
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
4 upvotes
loving_nathan28
I'm a social worker and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
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