With a population of 33,080, Salisbury is a smaller city. The median home value here is around $217,500, which is actually reasonable. Homes are going for about $217,500 on average. Household incomes average around $56,402 in Salisbury. You can expect to pay around $1,247 for rent here. The city has invested a lot in new development. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
Pros:
- Nice parks and trails
- Close to nature
- Easy commute
- Lots of new development
- Strong sense of community
Cons:
- Cold winters
- Rising rent prices
- Limited dining options
- High property taxes
- Poor road conditions
What do you all think? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. The weather takes some getting used to. The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
26 upvotes
26 Replies
Brooks Cook
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 48, moved here 4 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Sunset and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The nightlife situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. excellent 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 Dallas, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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
Elena Jackson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 14 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are solid. 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. Limited entertainment options. Far from beaches/mountains. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Amelia Foster
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is job market. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
39 upvotes
Stella
Saving this thread
38 upvotes
Stella Adams
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Autumn Stewart
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much stable but now it's underrated.
32 upvotes
Willow Miller
I've lived in Downtown for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The walkability scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Nova Nguyen
noted, appreciate it
31 upvotes
Mason Mendoza
following this thread
30 upvotes
Aurora Scott
I'm a lawyer and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Connor W.
+1
25 upvotes
Jaxon C.
Moved here from LA about 4 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to healthcare but No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Alexander Cook
literally same
22 upvotes
Patricia N.
underrated comment
22 upvotes
Elijah Ruiz
Totally agree!
20 upvotes
nyc_david
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cultural scene. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
18 upvotes
Isla G.
it depends on the neighborhood
17 upvotes
Willow Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
9 upvotes
Henry Campbell
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in retail. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Asian.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Wesley S.
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great craft beer places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
8 upvotes
Leah Hernandez
I've lived in Lakewood for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- The public transit scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
7 upvotes
Leo T.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 50, moved here 7 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Eastside and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Raleigh, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K 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.
5 upvotes
Andrew Walker
I'm a electrician and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
4 upvotes
Gabriel Gonzalez
underrated comment
4 upvotes
Addison Wright
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
Kinsley Cook
I've lived in The Heights for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by pet-friendliness. 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 safety scene is average
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. It's not for everyone but it works for us..