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Mia Turner
housing
Studio apartments in Midland -options?
Longtime lurker here, Has anyone dealt with this? Looking forward to hearing from you all.
11 upvotes
9 Replies
Jameson T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 41, moved here 12 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Fairview and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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 sales manager, 41, moved here 12 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Fairview and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
36 upvotes
Ian Patel
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
24 upvotes
Declan Phillips
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from San Diego about 4 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is improving.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from San Diego about 4 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is improving.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
23 upvotes
Isabella Howard
lol so true
18 upvotes
madeline_life
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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 nightlife, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
17 upvotes
Isabelle
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in The Heights. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in The Heights. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in finance. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
Kaylee M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from LA about 5 years ago. The main reasons were family and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is average.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from LA about 5 years ago. The main reasons were family and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is average.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
15 upvotes
Adam Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 55, moved here 10 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Lakewood and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Seattle, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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 accountant, 55, moved here 10 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Lakewood and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for remote workers. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Seattle, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
9 upvotes
Mason Gonzalez
following this thread
5 upvotes