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Camila Bennett
living
Honest thoughts on life in Massillon
I'm a college student here and There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Anyone in a similar situation?
3 upvotes
21 Replies
Daniel A.
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
37 upvotes
Albert D.
exactly what I was thinking
37 upvotes
Brooklyn Carter
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
34 upvotes
Sophia
this is the way
31 upvotes
John Morris
accurate
29 upvotes
Jonathan F.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 39, moved here 6 years ago from LA. I've lived in Greenfield and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The traffic situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 LA, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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 electrician, 39, moved here 6 years ago from LA. I've lived in Greenfield and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The traffic situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for singles. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 LA, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
28 upvotes
kcvibes2025
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. Feel free to reach out with questions..
27 upvotes
Nora Thomas
honestly same experience here
25 upvotes
Aurora R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Boston about 13 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are reasonable, gas is excellent.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Boston about 13 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are reasonable, gas is excellent.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
23 upvotes
Kayden Roberts
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
22 upvotes
Aiden Chavez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
Thomas Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 38, moved here 10 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Lakewood and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Charlotte, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$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 contractor, 38, moved here 10 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Lakewood and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Charlotte, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$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.
16 upvotes
Eleanor Kim
this is the way
16 upvotes
Luca Gomez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in education. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in education. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
16 upvotes
Isaiah Chavez
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much manageable but now it's excellent.
13 upvotes
Ezra
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from LA about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are developing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a writer who relocated here from LA about 8 years ago. The main reasons were school and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are developing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Good luck with whatever you decide..
12 upvotes
Sofia Watson
I'm a HR manager and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
9 upvotes
Vivian Reyes
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. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
6 upvotes
Xavier Moore
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
5 upvotes
Eugene E.
Can confirm, been here 9 years.
2 upvotes
Harper Smith
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
2 upvotes