Longtime lurker here, Military spouse here. Rent is about $2,448/month for a decent place. It's a a smaller city city with about 30,451 people. Household incomes average around $184,113 in Princeton. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The city has invested a lot in new development. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
0 upvotes
19 Replies
Kinsley Patel
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
39 upvotes
James B.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 52, moved here 6 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The walkability situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Seattle, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K 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.
39 upvotes
Kennedy Miller
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 38, moved here 11 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Nice parks and green spaces
4. The people are generally average - 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 food scene situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Portland, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K 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.
38 upvotes
Lydia Lewis
Moved here last year, no regrets.
37 upvotes
Stella Davis
exactly what I was thinking
32 upvotes
Nathan Campbell
exactly what I was thinking
21 upvotes
Aria Gray
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is solid in most areas.
20 upvotes
Willow P.
+1
19 upvotes
milwaukeemind2025
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
16 upvotes
Parker W.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Ethan Scott
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
10 upvotes
Olivia R.
couldn't agree more
10 upvotes
Kayden Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 31, moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in West and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The traffic situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
10 upvotes
Ruby Hughes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 10 years. Moved from Atlanta for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are solid. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Summers can be brutally hot. Can feel isolated. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
William Adams
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Downtown. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
8 upvotes
Emmett Johnson
noted, appreciate it
8 upvotes
Cameron Bailey
Bought a house here in 2017 and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Property values have gone about the same since then.
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