So, Born and raised here. You can expect to pay around $1,220 for rent here. Homes are going for about $262,600 on average. The median home value here is around $262,600, which seems about average. The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Thanks in advance! Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The weather takes some getting used to. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
8 upvotes
24 Replies
Ruby Smith
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 43, moved here 8 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in East and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The cultural scene situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for retirees. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$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.
40 upvotes
Levi Garcia
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Riverside) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
39 upvotes
Abigail White
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
37 upvotes
Aaliyah G.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Atlanta it's better than expected.
36 upvotes
Abigail M.
been saying this for years
36 upvotes
Samuel Green
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 9 years. Moved from Chicago for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are decent. 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. Bugs and humidity in summer. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
34 upvotes
Abigail Anderson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 5 years. Moved from Baltimore for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are decent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Homeless population growing downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Genesis Patel
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The healthcare is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Willie P.
Came here for work and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The public transit is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
atl_luna
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if healthcare matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
25 upvotes
Mason Garcia
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are average, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
25 upvotes
Victoria C.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
25 upvotes
Nathan B.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
23 upvotes
Victoria K.
100%
23 upvotes
urban_david20
100%
22 upvotes
Chloe Alvarez
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. community vibe used to be much established but now it's challenging.
22 upvotes
John Kelly
I've lived in Sunset for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Lots of new development happening
- The community vibe scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Addison Morgan
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great farm-to-table places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
18 upvotes
Ian H.
I work in retail here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is solid. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Ruby T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 24, moved here 6 years ago from Miami. I've lived in South and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
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. Rising rent and home prices
3. The cost of living situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for retirees. decent 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 Miami, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$130K 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.
11 upvotes
Alexa Ortiz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Dallas about 9 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is tough.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Hannah Wilson
Used to live on the Greenfield side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
2 upvotes
real_avery19
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
0 upvotes
Hudson
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great seafood places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
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