I work in engineering and Rent is about $1,910/month for a decent place. Crime rate is something to consider — Pembroke Pines sits at 203.3 per 100K. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What would you do? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
19 upvotes
30 Replies
Nevaeh Bennett
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the Greenfield side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
39 upvotes
Eugene A.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 26, moved here 11 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Westside and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The pet-friendliness situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for young professionals. underrated 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 Chicago, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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.
38 upvotes
Elijah Ortiz
Moved here from Minneapolis about 9 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to traffic but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
37 upvotes
Amelia
not my experience at all
36 upvotes
Stella Morris
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job 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.
34 upvotes
Elijah
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 8 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Oak Park side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
33 upvotes
Sarah G.
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The public transit scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
32 upvotes
Gabriel G.
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: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Cedar Grove. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
Greyson T.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
29 upvotes
Aiden Cooper
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I love the pace of life here.
27 upvotes
Luna Rogers
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 8 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
Gerald G.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 13 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
25 upvotes
Emily Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 36, moved here 1 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Westside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Property taxes are high
3. The cost of living situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Austin, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$120K 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.
25 upvotes
Adam Patel
Bought a house here in 2019 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
23 upvotes
Hunter Brown
seconding this
23 upvotes
Maverick Baker
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Adeline Brown
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Hudson H.
thanks for sharing
18 upvotes
Margaret O.
Moved here from San Diego about 1 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to dating scene but Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Julia B.
I've lived in North for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options
- The housing market scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Urban sprawl is real
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
17 upvotes
Linda J.
Used to live on the Oak Park side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
12 upvotes
Samuel J.
great question, following
9 upvotes
Madeline Hernandez
wish I knew this sooner
7 upvotes
Nora G.
accurate
7 upvotes
Silas Thomas
I'm a social worker and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes
Carolyn K.
yep
4 upvotes
Evan Wright
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great seafood places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
3 upvotes
Madelyn Edwards
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Dallas it's improving.
3 upvotes
Nicholas T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Fairview) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit 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.
2 upvotes
Melanie Patel
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Raleigh about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Four distinct seasons
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
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