Hey, It's a a small town city with about 16,398 people. Homes are going for about $492,000 on average. Poverty rate is 10.0%, which is pretty low. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
11 upvotes
7 Replies
Jonathan Thompson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Midtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
28 upvotes
Mason
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
28 upvotes
Ryan P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 52, moved here 15 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Cedar Grove and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The public transit situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Dallas, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K 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.
24 upvotes
Clara P.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
23 upvotes
Noah D.
underrated comment
13 upvotes
Asher Kelly
this is the way
12 upvotes
sophia_native
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in education. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
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