I've been here for 4 years and Rent is about $2,170/month for a decent place. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Any advice would be great. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
2 upvotes
12 Replies
Michael Phillips
accurate
34 upvotes
Violet Kelly
Came here for weather and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The weather is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
28 upvotes
Judith M.
hard disagree but ok
25 upvotes
Hailey Green
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 6 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
22 upvotes
Naomi Smith
been saying this for years
22 upvotes
Asher M.
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
20 upvotes
Gabriella L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 27, moved here 2 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in North and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
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. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The pet-friendliness situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$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.
17 upvotes
David Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 42, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Riverside and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Growing food and restaurant scene
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The pet-friendliness situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. tough 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 Houston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K 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.
17 upvotes
Landon Morgan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Connor M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
12 upvotes
Nora Campbell
interesting, hadn't considered that
12 upvotes
Paisley Miller
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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