So, Been living here since 2005. It's a a smaller city city with about 28,599 people. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Worth the trade-offs? The weather takes some getting used to. The weather takes some getting used to. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
17 upvotes
13 Replies
Riley C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Nashville about 6 years ago. The main reasons were family and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Limited shopping options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are growing, gas is average.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
38 upvotes
Grayson Cook
This.
37 upvotes
Caroline Price
facts
35 upvotes
Emma R.
Bought a house here in 2015 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
33 upvotes
Luca Thomas
bump
33 upvotes
Greyson Reyes
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
25 upvotes
alexander_vibes
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Fairview) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
22 upvotes
Ian M.
100%
19 upvotes
Adam C.
I'm a lawyer and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Benjamin Reed
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely average and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Midtown) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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.
14 upvotes
Pamela J.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
9 upvotes
Avery Peterson
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 3 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
6 upvotes
Kennedy Gutierrez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Riverside. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
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