Hey everyone, Rent is about $914/month for a decent place. Median household income is $66,774, which feels about average for the area. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Am I wrong here?
23 upvotes
14 Replies
Evan Gonzalez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Atlanta 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 Sunset. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in finance. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Lillian Reed
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 58, moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Uptown and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited shopping options
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
38 upvotes
Nolan Anderson
haha yep pretty much
31 upvotes
Ethan Stewart
honestly same experience here
28 upvotes
Noah W.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much developing but now it's tough.
27 upvotes
Robert Rogers
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 3 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
21 upvotes
Gabriella Moore
good to know, thanks
20 upvotes
Josiah Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Cedar Grove. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in education. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Definitely worth checking out..
20 upvotes
Kyle W.
I've lived in Old Town for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- The dating scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Samuel Lee
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 28, moved here 14 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Cedar Grove and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for couples. average vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Charlotte, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
16 upvotes
Bella White
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 35, moved here 2 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Uptown and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The weather situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Charlotte, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
6 upvotes
Ethan Hill
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of new development happening
- The housing market scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
6 upvotes
Declan Wood
it depends on the neighborhood
5 upvotes
benjamin_girl
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely pretty good and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
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.
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