Average temperature is around 48--F, so expect cold winters. It's a a smaller city city with about 30,772 people. Poverty rate is 17.8%, which is higher than I expected. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The city has invested a lot in new development.
28 upvotes
9 Replies
Natalie N.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Raleigh it's decent.
40 upvotes
Clara Ross
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
32 upvotes
Carson Kim
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
31 upvotes
Christian Jackson
This.
25 upvotes
Madelyn Peterson
yeah no that's not right
22 upvotes
Alice
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
6 upvotes
Ezekiel Allen
wish I knew this sooner
2 upvotes
Amelia Cruz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 30, moved here 8 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Midtown and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The community vibe situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. improving 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
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