OK so Crime rate is something to consider — Minneapolis sits at 925.7 per 100K. Rent is about $1,329/month for a decent place. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
22 upvotes
32 Replies
Sofia R.
same here
39 upvotes
Vivian T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely underrated and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
38 upvotes
Richard E.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 26, moved here 15 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Dallas, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$120K 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.
37 upvotes
Zoe P.
I'm a electrician and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
37 upvotes
Benjamin H.
underrated comment
35 upvotes
Diana M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Phoenix about 3 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is improving.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Mason Scott
Came here for quality of life and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The cost of living is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
34 upvotes
milwaukee_jackson
been saying this for years
32 upvotes
David J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Definitely worth checking out..
32 upvotes
Dominic Richardson
spot on
32 upvotes
ava_native
Moved here from San Francisco about 2 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to dating scene but Feel free to reach out with questions..
31 upvotes
Eleanor Kim
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely decent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (South) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
31 upvotes
lucy_mind
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 28, moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Westside and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K 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.
30 upvotes
Landon Ross
Moved here from Boston about 2 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to dating scene but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
cincylocal2025
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
27 upvotes
Joshua Robinson
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The nightlife is improving compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
25 upvotes
Daniel Patel
same here
25 upvotes
Elizabeth Watson
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The weather is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
24 upvotes
Ezra
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 34, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Sunset and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The pet-friendliness situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for retirees. challenging 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 Phoenix, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K 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.
24 upvotes
Josiah P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in The Heights. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in real estate. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
17 upvotes
Logan H.
Bought a house here in 2020 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
16 upvotes
Waylon Carter
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much manageable but now it's average.
12 upvotes
Gabriel Walker
My experience has been mostly positive. it exceeded my expectations. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Alice H.
haha yep pretty much
10 upvotes
Elena
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 7 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
8 upvotes
Leo Clark
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from LA about 2 years ago. The main reasons were family and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Good luck with whatever you decide..
8 upvotes
Elijah Rodriguez
I'm a project manager and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes
Chloe Hernandez
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The safety is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
6 upvotes
Charlotte Perez
hmm interesting perspective
5 upvotes
James Scott
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
4 upvotes
Wesley Brooks
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 2 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
3 upvotes
Roman G.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
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