Hi all, Homes are going for about $156,000 on average. Median household income is $58,940, which feels about average for the area. Rent is about $804/month for a decent place. The unemployment rate is 2.5%, which is pretty low. It's a a small town city with about 17,054 people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Has anyone dealt with this? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The suburbs are where most families end up. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The city has invested a lot in new development. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The city has invested a lot in new development. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The weather takes some getting used to. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The city has invested a lot in new development. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
11 upvotes
15 Replies
Sophia
following this thread
39 upvotes
Josiah
as a local I can confirm
38 upvotes
Noah Miller
spot on
37 upvotes
Sebastian
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is solid in most areas.
27 upvotes
raleigh_jeremiah
This.
27 upvotes
Cooper Price
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much pricey but now it's solid.
21 upvotes
Kennedy W.
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great sushi places. I love the pace of life here.
21 upvotes
Audrey N.
nah I disagree
21 upvotes
John Davis
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Tampa 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 West. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in construction. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Hope this helps!.
19 upvotes
Madelyn Williams
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Thai places. it was the best decision I ever made.
16 upvotes
Gerald L.
underrated comment
16 upvotes
Nora P.
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The nightlife is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
14 upvotes
Brielle Garcia
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely solid and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Westside) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
14 upvotes
Jace Turner
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 7 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
3 upvotes
Ellie Phillips
I'm a accountant and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is average and there's always something going on.
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