So, I'm a teacher here and It's a a small town city with about 10,473 people. You can expect to pay around $1,598 for rent here. Poverty rate is 0.4%, which is pretty low. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The city has invested a lot in new development. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The suburbs are where most families end up. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
2 upvotes
3 Replies
Ian Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in construction. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Adam Nelson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 8 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
Leo
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
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