I relocated for work and It's a a smaller city city with about 94,836 people. The unemployment rate is 7.5%, which is concerning. Rent is about $1,018/month for a decent place. Poverty rate is 23.1%, which is higher than I expected. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The city has invested a lot in new development. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. What would you do? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The suburbs are where most families end up. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
10 upvotes
10 Replies
Miles
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Emmett Gonzalez
yeah no that's not right
33 upvotes
Isabella Castillo
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
26 upvotes
Leonardo Reyes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 30, moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The cultural scene situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$100K 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.
22 upvotes
Greyson Mendoza
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 35, moved here 14 years ago from Boston. I've lived in East and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for young professionals. improving 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 Boston, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$80K 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.
19 upvotes
Kai Brooks
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 26, moved here 2 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Springfield and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good healthcare facilities
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. Urban sprawl is real
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. underrated 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 Dallas, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K 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.
15 upvotes
Eva Smith
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from LA about 15 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Close to major attractions
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited shopping options
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Savannah Jackson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 27, moved here 15 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Sunset and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Property taxes are high
3. The community vibe situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $70K-$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.
All Countries
