Hey folks, Military spouse here. Homes are going for about $161,500 on average. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What would you do? Any help is appreciated. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
7 upvotes
12 Replies
Alice C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 9 years. Moved from Nashville for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are hit or miss. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Summers can be brutally hot. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Mia Robinson
Can confirm, been here 12 years.
36 upvotes
Reagan S.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 11 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
30 upvotes
Julian P.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Italian places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
28 upvotes
Declan L.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
26 upvotes
sunny_stella97
I'm a contractor and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Gabriel
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from San Francisco about 2 years ago. The main reasons were work and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are growing, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Definitely worth checking out..
23 upvotes
Nova Sanders
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: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Fairview. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in finance. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
Carter Roberts
couldn't agree more
19 upvotes
Andrew
literally same
12 upvotes
Ethan R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 15 years. Moved from Seattle for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. 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 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are decent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
4 upvotes
Hunter Cook
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Miami it's decent.
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