With a population of 5,058, Meridian is a small town. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Should I be concerned? Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
11 upvotes
12 Replies
Austin W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Oak Park. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
34 upvotes
Isla L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 53, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Riverside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The cultural scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K 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.
31 upvotes
Brian F.
accurate
30 upvotes
Bella Clark
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in education. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Asian.
No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
Elizabeth Myers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely average and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Riverside) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
20 upvotes
Greyson Bennett
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Asian places. it exceeded my expectations.
20 upvotes
Declan Rodriguez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 1 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
14 upvotes
Evan Martin
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 3 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
12 upvotes
dominic_papa
literally same
12 upvotes
Cooper Clark
I work in manufacturing here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is challenging. Happy to answer more specific questions..
10 upvotes
Quinn Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in government. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
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