I relocated for work and Homes are going for about $267,900 on average. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What do you all think?
23 upvotes
25 Replies
Sadie S.
interesting, hadn't considered that
38 upvotes
Natalie Gray
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 3 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
38 upvotes
Silas Brooks
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Southern.
No regrets on my end..
37 upvotes
Mason Price
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 29, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Midtown and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
35 upvotes
Zoe M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Denver about 8 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is excellent.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
35 upvotes
Ruby
Bought a house here in 2017 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone about the same since then.
35 upvotes
Theodore W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 14 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Isaiah Torres
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 4 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
33 upvotes
Bennett Parker
not my experience at all
33 upvotes
Carson Kim
lol so true
28 upvotes
Cooper Rodriguez
preach
28 upvotes
Piper
it depends on the neighborhood
28 upvotes
Aaron Reed
I work in retail here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is decent. Good luck with whatever you decide..
27 upvotes
Alexander Clark
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Miami about 2 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
26 upvotes
Silas L.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
19 upvotes
mackenzie_life
I've lived in Fairview for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The cost of living scene is solid
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Rylee Mitchell
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The cost of living is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Hope this helps!.
16 upvotes
Julia Ramirez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely decent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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
Stephen A.
underrated comment
12 upvotes
Chloe
Moved here from Raleigh about 2 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to public transit but Good luck with whatever you decide..
10 upvotes
Addison Cox
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Highland) is developing 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 Nightlife is limited.
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.
10 upvotes
Josiah Myers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely underrated and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Sunset) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
6 upvotes
Ethan Garcia
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 3 years. Moved from Boston for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is decent - we have biking trails 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 surprisingly good. 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. Nightlife is limited. Road conditions need improvement. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
4 upvotes
Reagan Thomas
+1
2 upvotes
Jackson Jones
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 6 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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