The unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is pretty low. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The city has invested a lot in new development. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
10 upvotes
24 Replies
Luna Long
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Phoenix about 3 years ago. The main reasons were family and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is decent.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Mia
Bought a house here in 2022 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
38 upvotes
Allison Morales
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Sunset) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene 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.
37 upvotes
Kennedy G.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 1 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
36 upvotes
Ian Harris
Used to live on the Springfield side, now on the West side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
32 upvotes
Evan Thomas
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
31 upvotes
Gianna
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Houston about 6 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Aurora
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
Peyton Lopez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely better than expected and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Fairview) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
27 upvotes
Elijah P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 52, moved here 6 years ago from New York. I've lived in Greenfield and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Close to major attractions
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited shopping options
3. The walkability situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for young professionals. solid 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 New York, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
23 upvotes
Brooks Robinson
I'm a lawyer and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
22 upvotes
Declan White
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 9 years. Moved from Nashville for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are excellent. 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 public transit options. Limited shopping options. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
21 upvotes
Adrian Thomas
Came here for work and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The pet-friendliness is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
20 upvotes
Wesley Morales
I'm a HR manager and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
16 upvotes
Brielle Chavez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 11 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
Wayne H.
been saying this for years
14 upvotes
Connor Richardson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 7 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
14 upvotes
Henry R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely solid and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Springfield) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene 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.
13 upvotes
Jaxon Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 56, moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Midtown and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Property taxes are high
3. The housing market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for singles. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Francisco, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
8 upvotes
Melanie O.
yep
6 upvotes
minneapolisnative2022
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 11 years. Moved from Chicago for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have biking trails 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 hit or miss. 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. Can feel isolated. Homeless population growing downtown. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
5 upvotes
Denise H.
hmm interesting perspective
3 upvotes
Waylon Mitchell
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
2 upvotes
Vivian
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Asian places. it was the best decision I ever made.
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