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Everly Parker living

Pros and cons of Middle River after 10 years

Curious what people think. Rent is about $1,639/month for a decent place. What do you all think?
17 upvotes

15 Replies

Michael Perez
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
40 upvotes
Asher Sanders
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Charlotte Phillips
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a nurse, 51, moved here 10 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for retirees. excellent 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 LA, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.

**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
32 upvotes
Bennett Richardson
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
31 upvotes
Naomi Mendoza
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
26 upvotes
Willow Evans
This.
25 upvotes
Abigail Moore
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
21 upvotes
Carson Torres
it depends on the neighborhood
17 upvotes
Kayden Thomas
Moved here from Phoenix about 14 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to safety but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Chloe Brooks
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a chef who relocated here from Miami about 13 years ago. The main reasons were school and cost of living.

Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community

Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Limited shopping options

Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is underrated.

Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Lillian
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's better than expected for what you get.

Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in engineering you might struggle.

People: Generally average. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: improving. Tons of options if you like BBQ.

It's not for everyone but it works for us..
12 upvotes
Landon Williams
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great BBQ places. I love the pace of life here.
9 upvotes
Austin T.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is job market. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
6 upvotes
Piper Gomez
exactly what I was thinking
4 upvotes
Benjamin
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in The Heights for 2 years. Moved from Miami for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Far from beaches/mountains. And housing market can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
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