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Silas Edwards living

Is Salem a good place to live?

OK so Just moved here 16 months ago and Median household income is $57,083, which feels about average for the area. You can expect to pay around $752 for rent here. It's a a small town city with about 7,341 people. Homes are going for about $99,800 on average. The median home value here is around $99,800, which is actually reasonable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The weather takes some getting used to. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.

Pros:
- Friendly people
- Growing food scene
- Good schools
- Low taxes
- Good internet infrastructure

Cons:
- Not very walkable
- Limited dining options
- Few job opportunities in some fields
- Far from major airports
Is this normal for Salem? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The city has invested a lot in new development. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The suburbs are where most families end up. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
3 upvotes

15 Replies

Matthew Bailey
I've lived in Uptown for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The housing market scene is improving

The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough

Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Leo Turner
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is challenging in most areas.
35 upvotes
Axel Moore
I work in healthcare here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is hit or miss. Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Leo S.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.

I've been here 12 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is improving.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
31 upvotes
naomi_vibes
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's tough for what you get.

Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in government. If you're in marketing you might struggle.

People: Generally better than expected. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.

Good luck with whatever you decide..
29 upvotes
Paisley Morris
underrated comment
28 upvotes
phoenix_christian
I'm a lawyer and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
23 upvotes
Roy F.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Jacob Thomas
We moved here with our family and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Schools in Westside area are average. Kids love it here.
17 upvotes
Axel Cruz
honestly same experience here
15 upvotes
Jace Baker
thanks for sharing
15 upvotes
Zoe Mitchell
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Worth doing your research before committing.
14 upvotes
Ethan Price
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great seafood places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
6 upvotes
Parker Nguyen
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
5 upvotes
Ezekiel Torres
Bought a house here in 2023 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
4 upvotes
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