It's a a small town city with about 15,662 people. You can expect to pay around $734 for rent here. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Looking forward to hearing from you all. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The weather takes some getting used to. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
10 upvotes
14 Replies
Leah Sanchez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 29, moved here 2 years ago from Boston. I've lived in East and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
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. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The healthcare situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Boston, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K 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.
39 upvotes
mountain_theodore5
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
35 upvotes
Grace Morales
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
34 upvotes
philly_william
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 11 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
Isaac Jimenez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
orlando_grace
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
30 upvotes
Allison Jones
spot on
29 upvotes
Ava Allen
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 7 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Winters are long and cold
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are reasonable, gas is solid.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Happy to answer more specific questions..
25 upvotes
Gianna J.
exactly what I was thinking
20 upvotes
Sarah G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Riverside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in real estate. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Luke
nah I disagree
12 upvotes
Adrian Brown
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the North side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
8 upvotes
Joseph Gonzalez
I work in marketing here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is improving. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
4 upvotes
Bennett C.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Baltimore it's excellent.
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