Anyone else feel this way? I'm retired and Rent is about $1,370/month for a decent place. Homes are going for about $259,200 on average. The median home value here is around $259,200, which seems about average. It's a a smaller city city with about 31,778 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The city has invested a lot in new development. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Has anyone dealt with this? Any help is appreciated. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
13 upvotes
15 Replies
Ashley T.
Bought a house here in 2015 and I'm still on the fence after all this time. Property values have gone about the same since then.
39 upvotes
sdwalker2021
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
39 upvotes
Everett White
it depends on the neighborhood
38 upvotes
Hailey Taylor
Used to live on the South side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
34 upvotes
Jonathan Garcia
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 1 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's established 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 excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
32 upvotes
Joseph Mendoza
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
29 upvotes
Genesis Kim
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Seattle it's excellent.
29 upvotes
Lucas Moore
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 26, moved here 13 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Lakewood and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The housing market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Baltimore, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
29 upvotes
Kai Brown
not my experience at all
28 upvotes
Joyce C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 38, moved here 14 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in The Heights and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for retirees. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Charlotte, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
22 upvotes
Nevaeh R.
Saving this thread
18 upvotes
Gabriel Ward
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Alexa Baker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 35, moved here 8 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited shopping options
3. The food scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 San Francisco, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$120K 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.
13 upvotes
Mason Roberts
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Portland it's excellent.
3 upvotes
Luke Turner
Bought a house here in 2021 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
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