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Jace Kim
best-worst
What Monroe does better than anywhere else
Not sure if this has been asked before, but The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Thoughts?
6 upvotes
6 Replies
Easton Evans
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 52, moved here 6 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Pine Hills and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for couples. better than expected 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 Charlotte, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$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.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 52, moved here 6 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Pine Hills and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for couples. better than expected 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 Charlotte, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$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
Henry Wilson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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 safety, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely challenging and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
25 upvotes
Robert P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
21 upvotes
Matthew Perez
nah I disagree
17 upvotes
William Reed
great question, following
9 upvotes
Cameron B.
I'm a sales manager and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
9 upvotes