Curious what people think. I'm a remote worker and Average temperature is around 49--F, so expect cold winters. Rent is about $1,007/month for a decent place. You can expect to pay around $1,007 for rent here. It's a a smaller city city with about 61,914 people. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Am I wrong here? Any help is appreciated. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
9 upvotes
19 Replies
Hudson White
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The public transit is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
40 upvotes
loving_nathan28
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 31, moved here 12 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Old Town and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K 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.
37 upvotes
Susan P.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Baltimore about 14 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Happy to answer more specific questions..
36 upvotes
Elena H.
not my experience at all
32 upvotes
Noah Richardson
Public transit is excellent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
29 upvotes
Marilyn C.
spot on
24 upvotes
Reagan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Pittsburgh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
20 upvotes
Brooklyn H.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
17 upvotes
Reagan Taylor
Moved here from Boston about 1 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to traffic but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
17 upvotes
Dorothy F.
literally same
16 upvotes
Christian Allen
I work in real estate here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is pretty good. No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
Nevaeh R.
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
10 upvotes
Roman Edwards
Can confirm, been here 5 years.
9 upvotes
Adrian Thomas
Used to live on the Meadowbrook side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
8 upvotes
mountain_ethan44
following this thread
6 upvotes
everett_heart
Bought a house here in 2024 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone about the same since then.
4 upvotes
Luke Campbell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 52, moved here 4 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Oak Park and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The dating scene situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Miami, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
3 upvotes
Ethan Parker
wish I knew this sooner
1 upvotes
Benjamin Reed
Bought a house here in 2023 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
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