Random thought, I'm a teacher here and Median household income is $97,410, which feels pretty solid for the area. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is pretty low. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
54 upvotes
27 Replies
Isla C.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Feel free to reach out with questions..
40 upvotes
Ezra C.
I've lived in Downtown for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- The nightlife scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for young professionals. Hope this helps!.
39 upvotes
Valentina Evans
following this thread
39 upvotes
Elijah Ortiz
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Thai places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
39 upvotes
Gianna Cox
interesting, hadn't considered that
38 upvotes
Angel Sanders
yep
37 upvotes
Lydia Baker
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The walkability is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
36 upvotes
river_sarah72
This.
35 upvotes
Wesley T.
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much growing but now it's solid.
35 upvotes
Declan Sanders
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
34 upvotes
Dylan M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 3 years. Moved from Nashville for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. 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 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland 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. Rising rent and home prices. Chain restaurants dominate. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
32 upvotes
sdchef2024
facts
32 upvotes
Nevaeh M.
bump
31 upvotes
seattlerunner2022
thanks for sharing
23 upvotes
Mia
facts
23 upvotes
Addison Hughes
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Happy to answer more specific questions..
18 upvotes
Lillian Rodriguez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 2 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
17 upvotes
Vivian Morgan
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The community vibe is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
16 upvotes
Julia Lee
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Emily Bailey
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. I genuinely enjoy living here. Worth doing your research before committing.
14 upvotes
Emilia Foster
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to Pittsburgh it's underrated.
13 upvotes
charlottewalker2021
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
11 upvotes
Nicholas Wilson
spot on
10 upvotes
Timothy M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to San Diego it's average.
4 upvotes
Ian Sanders
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much pricey but now it's decent.
2 upvotes
Isabella
I work in legal here and it's exactly what I was looking for. The job market for my field is better than expected. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
2 upvotes
Aurora Ross
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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