Hey, I'm a 27-year-old marketing manager and With a population of 77,155, Racine is a smaller city. Homes are going for about $158,100 on average. Median household income is $55,705, which feels about average for the area. Poverty rate is 13.4%, which is around average. The weather takes some getting used to. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The suburbs are where most families end up. The suburbs are where most families end up.
12 upvotes
24 Replies
cool_angel92
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 25, moved here 3 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Cedar Grove and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Close to major attractions
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The housing market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. average vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K 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.
40 upvotes
Sebastian Richardson
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much competitive but now it's excellent.
40 upvotes
Axel Walker
I'm a physical therapist and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
39 upvotes
Gabriella Hernandez
Moved here last year, no regrets.
39 upvotes
Maya R.
glad someone said it
36 upvotes
Kaylee Cox
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 40, moved here 4 years ago from Portland. I've lived in South and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Affordable housing options
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. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for couples. solid 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 Portland, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K 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.
33 upvotes
Axel R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 44, moved here 15 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Uptown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Can feel isolated
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for retirees. better than expected 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 Raleigh, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K 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.
32 upvotes
Gianna Brown
glad someone said it
28 upvotes
Eugene F.
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in South area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
28 upvotes
Isaiah
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.
27 upvotes
lagirl2022
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
26 upvotes
Nova
Used to live on the South side, now on the Cedar Grove side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
25 upvotes
Josiah Ortiz
bump
19 upvotes
Jameson Torres
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely decent and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Springfield) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene 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.
18 upvotes
Joshua
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 14 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Alexa Phillips
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is underrated in most areas.
14 upvotes
Luna White
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Raleigh 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 Highland. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
14 upvotes
Hudson Cook
thanks for sharing
12 upvotes
Vivian Nelson
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much reasonable but now it's solid.
12 upvotes
Delilah Long
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 45, moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The job market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for families. challenging 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 Minneapolis, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K 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.
11 upvotes
Jonathan W.
I've lived in Meadowbrook for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The dating scene scene is improving
The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for retirees. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
8 upvotes
Levi Green
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in East area are solid. Kids love it here.
5 upvotes
Jace R.
I've lived in Greenfield for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by walkability. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- The school system scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for couples. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
All Countries
