It's a a smaller city city with about 29,453 people. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Any advice would be great. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
8 upvotes
15 Replies
William M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 6 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Nice parks and green spaces
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is solid.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
38 upvotes
Mackenzie Mitchell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 39, moved here 8 years ago from Portland. I've lived in South and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: 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 Portland, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
36 upvotes
Hunter Walker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely pretty good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Downtown) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
28 upvotes
Hailey Cox
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want school system, then yeah this place is great. But if dating scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
27 upvotes
Clara Edwards
underrated comment
26 upvotes
Bryan L.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Houston about 7 years ago. The main reasons were school and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
20 upvotes
mason_dude
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
19 upvotes
Sharon T.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's been a really good experience overall. Compared to Miami it's excellent.
13 upvotes
Maverick Castillo
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Sunset. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
12 upvotes
Avery Nelson
following this thread
11 upvotes
Isaac King
Came here for weather and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The walkability is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
9 upvotes
Eva Howard
underrated comment
7 upvotes
Henry Kim
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The weather is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Avery Chavez
I've lived in East for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
the quality of life is solid. When I first moved here from Nashville, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Diverse dining options
- The food scene scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Limited entertainment options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
0 upvotes
Melanie A.
I'm a sales manager and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
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