Hi all, I'm a 55-year-old firefighter and Household incomes average around $72,054 in Rome City. Average temperature is around 50--F, so expect cold winters. The median home value here is around $231,300, which is actually reasonable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Am I overthinking this? It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
7 upvotes
10 Replies
Emilia Allen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Cooper H.
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Vivian Howard
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
36 upvotes
Alexa
bump
35 upvotes
Kaylee Myers
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
33 upvotes
Christopher M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 29, moved here 10 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Limited shopping options
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for families. tough vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Diego, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
14 upvotes
Evan Stewart
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Midtown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Bugs and humidity in summer.
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.
9 upvotes
Carol P.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Raleigh it's average.
6 upvotes
Serenity Miller
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
5 upvotes
Thomas Hernandez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely pretty good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Westside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
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