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Everly L. best-worst

Best kept secrets of Marietta, GA

Hi all, I'm originally from Orlando and The median home value here is around $401,100, which is pretty steep. You can expect to pay around $1,491 for rent here. Median household income is $70,086, which feels about average for the area. It's a a smaller city city with about 61,773 people. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.

Pros:
- Affordable cost of living
- Nice parks and trails
- Close to nature
- Diverse community
- Lots of new development

Cons:
- Not very walkable
- Boring for young people
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Not enough green space
Any advice would be great. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The suburbs are where most families end up. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
27 upvotes

7 Replies

Eliana Johnson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a sales manager, 49, moved here 15 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Highland and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Baltimore, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.

**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
37 upvotes
Jeremiah Watson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
35 upvotes
Asher Hughes
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Tampa it's challenging.
30 upvotes
jace_mind
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely solid and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Highland) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.

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.
29 upvotes
Vivian W.
couldn't agree more
26 upvotes
Abigail Nguyen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's hit or miss for what you get.

Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.

People: Generally better than expected. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.

Feel free to reach out with questions..
22 upvotes
Aria
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
15 upvotes
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