Hi all, Just moved here 1 months ago and Median household income is $53,520, which feels on the lower side for the area. The median home value here is around $219,900, which is actually reasonable. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
2 upvotes
19 Replies
Sebastian Bailey
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 45, moved here 2 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Downtown and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The safety situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K 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.
36 upvotes
Ezekiel Nelson
accurate
33 upvotes
Nevaeh Harris
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in South. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in tech. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Hope this helps!.
32 upvotes
Delilah B.
spot on
29 upvotes
Piper
I work in education here and it was the best decision I ever made. The job market for my field is underrated. Feel free to reach out with questions..
27 upvotes
Quinn M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 28, moved here 11 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Riverside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The cultural scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. solid 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 Portland, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
26 upvotes
Oliver Evans
exactly what I was thinking
26 upvotes
Kaylee Jones
I've lived in South for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The dating scene scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
24 upvotes
Aubrey D.
noted, appreciate it
22 upvotes
Connor R.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
19 upvotes
Christian C.
I've lived in Fairview for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good airport with direct flights
- Diverse dining options
- The cultural scene scene is average
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
nola_evan
literally same
18 upvotes
Austin H.
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Korean places. it exceeded my expectations.
18 upvotes
Lydia Rodriguez
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much developing but now it's underrated.
15 upvotes
Madeline Myers
wish I knew this sooner
11 upvotes
Alice M.
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. nightlife used to be much manageable but now it's challenging.
10 upvotes
Jacob Collins
I work in construction here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is decent. No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Eleanor G.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Houston it's decent.
1 upvotes
orlandofan2023
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 32, moved here 4 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Lakewood and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. solid vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Chicago, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$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.
All Countries
