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jordan_heart
jobs
Anyone work in healthcare in Mason City?
OK so Thoughts? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
6 upvotes
15 Replies
Nancy K.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 56, moved here 7 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in East and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Dallas, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K 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.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 56, moved here 7 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in East and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Dallas, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K 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.
39 upvotes
Amelia Brooks
bump
39 upvotes
Christian W.
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
39 upvotes
Jonathan Turner
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much established but now it's challenging.
38 upvotes
Lydia S.
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much affordable but now it's average.
37 upvotes
Silas Roberts
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 4 years. Moved from Chicago for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
tech is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Old Town for 4 years. Moved from Chicago for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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:**
tech is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Theodore C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 3 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 3 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Nevaeh P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 10 years. Moved from New York for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is tough - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are challenging. 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. Limited high-paying job options. Dating scene is rough. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Riverside for 10 years. Moved from New York for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is tough - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are challenging. 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. Limited high-paying job options. Dating scene is rough. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Parker Richardson
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
30 upvotes
charlotte_jameson
thanks for sharing
25 upvotes
Alice Watson
I work in finance here and it's exactly what I was looking for. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Olivia
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much growing but now it's pretty good.
21 upvotes
Bennett
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
William Sanchez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 9 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 9 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
11 upvotes
Andrew Reyes
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to San Diego it's tough.
7 upvotes