First post here. Poverty rate is 4.7%, which is pretty low. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
10 upvotes
12 Replies
Luna Peterson
thanks for sharing
35 upvotes
Sophie S.
exactly what I was thinking
35 upvotes
Skylar T.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in finance. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like seafood.
No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
portlandlover2022
Moved here from Seattle about 9 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to school system but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
26 upvotes
Addison Flores
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much stable but now it's solid.
22 upvotes
Wesley Jimenez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Adam Scott
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 28, moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Oak Park and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The walkability situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. tough vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K 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.
15 upvotes
Hunter Bailey
Moved here last year, no regrets.
15 upvotes
Greyson Thomas
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
13 upvotes
Joseph B.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Betty L.
Saving this thread
12 upvotes
Riley Hill
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in retail. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
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