Longtime lurker here, I'm retired and Poverty rate is 4.4%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $1,480/month for a decent place. The median home value here is around $312,000, which seems about average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Would love some local perspective. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
6 upvotes
9 Replies
Kathleen T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 28, moved here 8 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Eastside and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K 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.
37 upvotes
Lucy A.
I've been living here for 7 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The cultural scene is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Jeremiah T.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Addison C.
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much competitive but now it's underrated.
23 upvotes
Elena Bennett
seconding this
16 upvotes
Grayson Patel
Moved here from Miami about 9 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to dating scene but Hope this helps!.
16 upvotes
Jameson Myers
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Miami it's challenging.
10 upvotes
Miles Johnson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Aiden Clark
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Mexican places. it was the best decision I ever made.
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