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Mason Brown
moving
Is Ottumwa worth moving to in 2026?
Anyone else feel this way? The unemployment rate is 2.3%, which is pretty low.
11 upvotes
15 Replies
Ava Ruiz
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in Westside area are underrated. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Xavier Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 49, moved here 1 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Lakewood and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. solid 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K 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.
Background: I'm a teacher, 49, moved here 1 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Lakewood and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. solid 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 Boston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K 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.
40 upvotes
Adeline Rodriguez
same here
33 upvotes
Nathan Morales
literally same
32 upvotes
Sofia James
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 4 years. Moved from Houston for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown 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. Winters are long and cold. Dating scene is rough. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Downtown for 4 years. Moved from Houston for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown 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. Winters are long and cold. Dating scene is rough. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
30 upvotes
Alice Young
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in construction. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in construction. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
No regrets on my end..
29 upvotes
Hudson Lee
yeah no that's not right
29 upvotes
lucas_heart
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say it's been a really good experience overall. The traffic is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
27 upvotes
oakland_kayden
interesting, hadn't considered that
20 upvotes
detroitvibes2023
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great craft beer places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
12 upvotes
Wesley Smith
nah I disagree
9 upvotes
Evan Lopez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Eastside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Eastside) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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
Madeline Hernandez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 6 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 6 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Kaylee Cooper
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Portland about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is decent.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Portland about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Lots of new development happening
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is decent.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
4 upvotes
Jackson Rodriguez
good to know, thanks
4 upvotes