Longtime lurker here, I've been here for 2 years and Rent is about $931/month for a decent place. It's a a smaller city city with about 86,234 people. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
30 upvotes
5 Replies
Sara O.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 44, moved here 6 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Pine Hills and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for young professionals. excellent 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 Raleigh, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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
Cora Martin
been saying this for years
22 upvotes
Claire Mendoza
glad someone said it
8 upvotes
Zoe Rodriguez
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much reasonable but now it's challenging.
5 upvotes
Sophie Morales
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Eastside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like sushi.
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