Hey, Born and raised here. It's a a smaller city city with about 34,642 people. The median home value here is around $644,100, which is pretty steep. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Has anyone dealt with this? Looking forward to hearing from you all.
10 upvotes
29 Replies
omahanative2021
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 40, moved here 9 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited shopping options
3. The weather situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. challenging 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 Charlotte, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
39 upvotes
Naomi Kelly
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
38 upvotes
Donald W.
spot on
38 upvotes
Roman Thomas
Weather-wise, the summers are underrated and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
38 upvotes
Zoe Morgan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like seafood.
No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Gabriel
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 7 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
detroit_austin
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
36 upvotes
dallasfan2023
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The food scene is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
36 upvotes
raleigh_ellie
facts
35 upvotes
sacramentomind2020
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Jackson B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Fairview. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
33 upvotes
Matthew
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 3 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
31 upvotes
Kevin M.
100%
25 upvotes
Eli Castillo
been saying this for years
24 upvotes
Miles Bennett
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Seattle it's surprisingly good.
23 upvotes
Alexander Baker
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
22 upvotes
Oliver Rivera
Moved here from Miami about 5 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to nightlife but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Ezekiel Morales
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
No regrets on my end..
17 upvotes
Scarlett L.
honestly same experience here
17 upvotes
Charlotte T.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is walkability. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
Leah Bennett
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is community vibe. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
15 upvotes
Everly Flores
This.
13 upvotes
Elijah
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Eastside. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Definitely worth checking out..
12 upvotes
Hazel Cooper
preach
12 upvotes
Jonathan Cook
couldn't agree more
11 upvotes
Aaron Roberts
spot on
4 upvotes
Owen S.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
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