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Weston Walker
moving
Should I move to Michigan City or stay in Pittsburgh?
OK so With a population of 31,894, Michigan City is a smaller city. What neighborhoods would you suggest?
15 upvotes
14 Replies
Matthew L.
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The traffic is surprisingly good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
39 upvotes
Theodore W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 43, moved here 14 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in East and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Atlanta, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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, 43, moved here 14 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in East and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Atlanta, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
38 upvotes
Ruby Foster
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely decent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely decent and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
37 upvotes
Landon M.
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great sushi places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
34 upvotes
Gabriella Gonzalez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from New York about 4 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from New York about 4 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Sarah Cruz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
Lucy Ramirez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in legal. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Fairview. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in legal. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
29 upvotes
Sadie Bailey
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is traffic. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Luna Hall
I've lived in Uptown for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
- The community vibe scene is average
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
- The community vibe scene is average
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Hope this helps!.
23 upvotes
Hudson Martinez
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
21 upvotes
Brooklyn Martin
I work in real estate here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
Connor Carter
+1
14 upvotes
Jose Ortiz
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in East area are tough. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Lydia M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Baltimore about 8 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are stable, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Baltimore about 8 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are stable, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
4 upvotes