Alright, It's a a smaller city city with about 37,953 people. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Thanks! The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The weather takes some getting used to. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
21 upvotes
18 Replies
Andrew Evans
following this thread
40 upvotes
Theodore Jones
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Southern places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
38 upvotes
Caroline P.
interesting, hadn't considered that
36 upvotes
Liam James
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 8 years. Moved from Chicago for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is solid - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And healthcare can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Harper James
Moved here from Portland about 10 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to job market but Happy to answer more specific questions..
32 upvotes
Anna Brooks
exactly what I was thinking
30 upvotes
Jonathan Murphy
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 8 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
Willie M.
thanks for sharing
29 upvotes
matthew_local
as a local I can confirm
27 upvotes
Colton Davis
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
23 upvotes
Evelyn Williams
yep
22 upvotes
Julia Ortiz
yeah no that's not right
21 upvotes
Vivian Cruz
wish I knew this sooner
20 upvotes
Michael M.
I work in government here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is better than expected. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
18 upvotes
Piper P.
This.
10 upvotes
Reagan C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 51, moved here 2 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in The Heights and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$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.
4 upvotes
Michael Price
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 5 years. Moved from Chicago for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is solid - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Urban sprawl is real. Not very walkable outside downtown. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 5/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
3 upvotes
Bella Mitchell
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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