Anyone else feel this way? The unemployment rate is 1.5%, which is pretty low. Median household income is $86,485, which feels pretty solid for the area. Rent is about $1,217/month for a decent place. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Let me know your thoughts. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The city has invested a lot in new development.
16 upvotes
21 Replies
Camila Nelson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 1 years. Moved from Austin for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are surprisingly good. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Autumn White
Moved here from New York about 6 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to community vibe but No regrets on my end..
38 upvotes
Eliana Walker
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 7 years. Moved from Baltimore for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are improving. 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. Winters are long and cold. Limited high-paying job options. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
35 upvotes
Christian Kim
Bought a house here in 2023 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
31 upvotes
wyatt_heart
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
30 upvotes
Eleanor Cooper
following this thread
30 upvotes
denverfan2020
big facts right here
30 upvotes
Luna Bennett
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely decent and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Fairview) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
28 upvotes
Brielle Murphy
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. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Carol H.
bump
24 upvotes
Eva Ross
it depends on the neighborhood
23 upvotes
Ian Alvarez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Baltimore about 14 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are growing, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Good luck with whatever you decide..
19 upvotes
Daniel
I'm a sales manager and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
16 upvotes
Luca Cooper
hard disagree but ok
15 upvotes
Levi H.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The pet-friendliness is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
15 upvotes
Melanie Martin
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
9 upvotes
Jace
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 2 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
7 upvotes
Wyatt Morris
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
7 upvotes
Joseph Long
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
6 upvotes
Jeremiah Reyes
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great farm-to-table places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
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