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Autumn Taylor
living
Pros and cons of Monroe after 7 years
OK so Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
15 upvotes
15 Replies
Sarah Miller
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Carson Rodriguez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in education. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
39 upvotes
Owen Long
facts
34 upvotes
Leonardo P.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is housing market. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
33 upvotes
Silas Nelson
lol so true
30 upvotes
omaha_leah
noted, appreciate it
27 upvotes
Jameson C.
couldn't agree more
27 upvotes
Nathan M.
as a local I can confirm
22 upvotes
Rylee Perez
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Oak Park area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
16 upvotes
Hazel King
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
15 upvotes
Susan P.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely tough and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (East) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
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 dating scene is genuinely tough and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (East) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
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.
8 upvotes
Elizabeth
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 49, moved here 2 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in West and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. 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 Raleigh, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K 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.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 49, moved here 2 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in West and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. 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 Raleigh, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K 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.
4 upvotes
Cameron Kelly
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Maple Ridge. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Aurora Lewis
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 9 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is decent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 9 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is decent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
3 upvotes
Mason Smith
Moved here from Phoenix about 11 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to public transit but Definitely worth checking out..
0 upvotes