Longtime lurker here, Born and raised here. Median household income is $82,493, which feels pretty solid for the area. Rent is about $1,310/month for a decent place. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
17 upvotes
12 Replies
Wesley James
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
38 upvotes
Miles Ramos
following this thread
35 upvotes
Jacob Hill
yep
22 upvotes
Connor Sanchez
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Southern places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
20 upvotes
Madeline Hall
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in The Heights. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Definitely worth checking out..
20 upvotes
John Murphy
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 53, moved here 11 years ago from LA. I've lived in Maple Ridge and West, 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. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 LA, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$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.
17 upvotes
Aaliyah C.
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 Highland. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Adam Miller
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Raleigh about 12 years ago. The main reasons were weather and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are growing, gas is challenging.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Colton Stewart
honestly same experience here
6 upvotes
Madelyn B.
great question, following
6 upvotes
Colton Price
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say I love the pace of life here. The housing market is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Sadie
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
All Countries
