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Jeremiah O.
moving
Is McNair worth moving to in 2026?
Not sure if this has been asked before, but What would you do?
8 upvotes
15 Replies
Isla Stewart
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Hope this helps!.
36 upvotes
local_grayson89
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 35, moved here 2 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Lakewood and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The weather situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. challenging 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 Tampa, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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 HR manager, 35, moved here 2 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Lakewood and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The weather situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. challenging 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 Tampa, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
35 upvotes
Aurora A.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 38, moved here 6 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Lakewood and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Boston, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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 real estate agent, 38, moved here 6 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Lakewood and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited shopping options
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Boston, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
34 upvotes
Evelyn Y.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I love the pace of life here. Internet is tough in most areas.
32 upvotes
Waylon James
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
22 upvotes
Ian Cooper
big facts right here
22 upvotes
Jonathan B.
nah I disagree
15 upvotes
Christian Cook
yeah no that's not right
12 upvotes
Elijah
exactly what I was thinking
11 upvotes
Emmett H.
Moved here from Denver about 12 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to school system but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
11 upvotes
Ian Turner
hard disagree but ok
8 upvotes
Kai Peterson
Used to live on the North side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
8 upvotes
Nova Davis
honestly same experience here
6 upvotes
Everett R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Nashville about 13 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are competitive, gas is solid.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Definitely worth checking out..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Nashville about 13 years ago. The main reasons were work and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are competitive, gas is solid.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
Cora T.
been saying this for years
1 upvotes