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Eric R. living

Norwich is underrated, change my mind

Hey everyone, The median home value here is around $642,200, which is pretty steep. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
8 upvotes

15 Replies

Brooklyn
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Carter L.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
39 upvotes
Elena H.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
38 upvotes
Greyson W.
nah I disagree
36 upvotes
Bella Harris
underrated comment
33 upvotes
Aurora Campbell
My experience has been mostly positive. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The only thing I'd watch out for is nightlife. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
29 upvotes
Jose Wood
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a physical therapist, 38, moved here 1 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Fairview and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Limited shopping options
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for retirees. underrated 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 Houston, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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.
29 upvotes
Wesley
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a teacher, 47, moved here 8 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Eastside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The school system situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 San Francisco, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$100K here.

**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
27 upvotes
Chloe
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a electrician, 42, moved here 11 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Westside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The nightlife situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Phoenix, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K 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.
20 upvotes
Zoe Wright
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
18 upvotes
Eva R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in The Heights. It's hit or miss for what you get.

Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.

People: Generally average. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Asian.

Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
sacramento_carter
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.

I've been here 1 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is surprisingly good.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
11 upvotes
Avery R.
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
11 upvotes
Weston D.
bump
5 upvotes
Lucy W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely underrated and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market 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.
1 upvotes
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