OK so With a population of 10,816, Montgomery is a small town. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
3 upvotes
10 Replies
bella_mama
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 12 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Pine Hills and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 San Diego, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
40 upvotes
Madeline Bennett
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great sushi places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
34 upvotes
Kaylee Hall
Bought a house here in 2017 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
33 upvotes
Austin B.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely pretty good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (West) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
29 upvotes
Ryan Howard
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
28 upvotes
Kennedy Robinson
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Midtown area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
27 upvotes
Madeline S.
hard disagree but ok
20 upvotes
Vivian L.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely excellent and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
10 upvotes
Eliana Jackson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 37, moved here 9 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Downtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The food scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
7 upvotes
Valentina Bailey
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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