I'm a nurse at the local hospital and Poverty rate is 9.3%, which is pretty low. It's a a smaller city city with about 61,376 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Should I be concerned? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
14 upvotes
27 Replies
Naomi Brown
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
36 upvotes
Hannah Moore
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
36 upvotes
Julian Lewis
couldn't agree more
33 upvotes
Kaylee
This.
32 upvotes
Ian Ortiz
spot on
32 upvotes
Waylon Taylor
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 5 years. Moved from Atlanta for weather. 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 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have biking trails 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 average. 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. Can feel isolated. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
real_serenity46
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 14 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Greenfield side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
31 upvotes
Angel Castillo
I'm a real estate agent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
31 upvotes
Isla T.
accurate
30 upvotes
Nolan Collins
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Korean places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
30 upvotes
John Nelson
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
30 upvotes
Parker Patel
Came here for weather and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The food scene is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
28 upvotes
Sharon C.
thanks for sharing
27 upvotes
Abigail R.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
23 upvotes
Evan Collins
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 4 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
19 upvotes
Evelyn Cox
Bought a house here in 2024 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
19 upvotes
Amelia James
Bought a house here in 2021 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
19 upvotes
Cora C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 9 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
15 upvotes
Leonardo Johnson
Came here for work and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The public transit is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
14 upvotes
Megan H.
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great seafood places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
14 upvotes
Lucas R.
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is pet-friendliness. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Sophie Roberts
underrated comment
11 upvotes
Michael
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
No regrets on my end..
11 upvotes
Ethan Sanders
Totally agree!
9 upvotes
Addison Chavez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in West. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in retail. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
8 upvotes
Autumn Young
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
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