Hey folks, I work in tech and Rent is about $2,374/month for a decent place. Poverty rate is 5.9%, which is pretty low. The median home value here is around $448,900, which is pretty steep. It's a a smaller city city with about 35,988 people. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Has anyone dealt with this? The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
12 upvotes
24 Replies
Joe R.
spot on
40 upvotes
Roman L.
I'm a project manager and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
35 upvotes
Roman Morris
100%
35 upvotes
mountain_weston73
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 45, moved here 13 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Eastside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Can feel isolated
3. The healthcare situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$120K 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.
34 upvotes
Angel
spot on
34 upvotes
Isabella Bennett
underrated comment
30 upvotes
Zachary R.
Can confirm, been here 8 years.
29 upvotes
chicago_adrian
hmm interesting perspective
26 upvotes
Amelia
lol so true
26 upvotes
Aria H.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Phoenix it's hit or miss.
26 upvotes
Vivian Chavez
Moved here from Miami about 1 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to traffic but Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
addison_chef
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 28, moved here 3 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Midtown and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The dating scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for retirees. solid 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 Boston, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K 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.
25 upvotes
Lucas M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely decent and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Midtown) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
22 upvotes
Stella M.
hmm interesting perspective
18 upvotes
Hudson
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Portland it's underrated.
16 upvotes
native_mia83
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
15 upvotes
Kelly W.
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The nightlife is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
14 upvotes
Austin Rivera
I've lived in Meadowbrook for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Austin, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Affordable housing options
- The nightlife scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
14 upvotes
minneapolislover2025
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
tucsonguy2023
Came here for quality of life and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The community vibe is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
8 upvotes
real_serenity46
spot on
6 upvotes
Jacob
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
4 upvotes
Kai Lee
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
1 upvotes
Mackenzie
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's developing 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 surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
All Countries
