Longtime lurker here, We have two kids and Rent is about $1,619/month for a decent place. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Should I be concerned? Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The city has invested a lot in new development.
22 upvotes
11 Replies
Sarah C.
good to know, thanks
39 upvotes
Caleb Smith
interesting, hadn't considered that
36 upvotes
Eleanor Collins
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Houston it's pretty good.
33 upvotes
Leah Mitchell
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from San Diego about 5 years ago. The main reasons were school and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
33 upvotes
Emilia Turner
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
31 upvotes
Landon Cruz
wish I knew this sooner
28 upvotes
Ellie Cook
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much affordable but now it's underrated.
26 upvotes
Madelyn Myers
noted, appreciate it
23 upvotes
Kai Turner
Used to live on the Old Town side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
20 upvotes
Nova Garcia
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in real estate. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
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