Hi all, Born and raised here. The median home value here is around $626,700, which is pretty steep. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What neighborhoods would you suggest?
9 upvotes
27 Replies
John Turner
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Mia Sanchez
Totally agree!
38 upvotes
Cameron Diaz
interesting, hadn't considered that
37 upvotes
Eugene P.
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Downtown area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Miles Gray
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Valentina Morris
accurate
33 upvotes
Abigail H.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely underrated and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Old Town) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
28 upvotes
Josiah Richardson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 54, moved here 1 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Maple Ridge and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. excellent 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 Baltimore, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$120K 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.
28 upvotes
Serenity Anderson
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in Highland area are excellent. Kids love it here.
27 upvotes
Weston
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
26 upvotes
Jeremiah Lopez
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
25 upvotes
Jordan Thomas
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
24 upvotes
Arianna Parker
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from LA about 5 years ago. The main reasons were work and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
Jean A.
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Vietnamese places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
21 upvotes
Jaxon Murphy
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 55, moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Sunset and South, 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. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for young professionals. improving vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
16 upvotes
Owen Ramos
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much manageable but now it's pretty good.
16 upvotes
Isaiah Mitchell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 49, moved here 6 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in South and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The walkability situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Baltimore, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
15 upvotes
Elena Thompson
wish I knew this sooner
11 upvotes
Everly Alvarez
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 7 years. Moved from Austin for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have beaches 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 average. 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. Dating scene is rough. Far from beaches/mountains. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Aria
haha yep pretty much
10 upvotes
Brielle Carter
preach
9 upvotes
Easton Rivera
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Compared to LA it's improving.
8 upvotes
Adrian H.
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
6 upvotes
Ella Jimenez
Bought a house here in 2022 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
4 upvotes
Silas Allen
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely solid and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
3 upvotes
Dominic
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
1 upvotes
Aaron M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
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