Hi all, I'm retired and It's a a smaller city city with about 28,015 people. You can expect to pay around $1,426 for rent here. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
13 upvotes
15 Replies
Luna Roberts
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in government. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
Silas J.
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
30 upvotes
nycpapa2025
+1
29 upvotes
oaklandheart2020
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
26 upvotes
Lillian Gomez
Bought a house here in 2021 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
25 upvotes
Violet F.
Bought a house here in 2021 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
21 upvotes
Oliver Chavez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is underrated in most areas.
19 upvotes
Joseph C.
yeah no that's not right
15 upvotes
Piper Torres
This.
11 upvotes
vegas_aurora
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 24, moved here 9 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Fairview and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The safety situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for families. challenging 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 Atlanta, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
10 upvotes
melanie_walker
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
8 upvotes
Aubrey Adams
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
8 upvotes
Luna H.
wish I knew this sooner
3 upvotes
Robert Alvarez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from LA 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 East. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in finance. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
3 upvotes
Valentina R.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
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