So, My family moved here when I was a kid. Median household income is $168,091, which feels pretty solid for the area. You can expect to pay around $1,617 for rent here. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Let me know your thoughts. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
4 upvotes
25 Replies
Mackenzie Brooks
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 weather is genuinely better than expected and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Midtown) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
40 upvotes
Autumn Taylor
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. safety used to be much manageable but now it's hit or miss.
39 upvotes
Gianna Ward
I've lived in South for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, 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
- Decent public transit for the size
- The walkability scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Road conditions need improvement
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Happy to answer more specific questions..
36 upvotes
Ruby Hall
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 38, moved here 3 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Uptown and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$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.
36 upvotes
Kaylee R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely hit or miss and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (West) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Limited entertainment 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.
34 upvotes
Lucy W.
hard disagree but ok
31 upvotes
Reagan S.
I'm a project manager and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
25 upvotes
Camila Kim
Moved here from Nashville about 7 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to community vibe but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Adeline Hill
I'm a nurse and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
21 upvotes
Gianna Richardson
couldn't agree more
21 upvotes
Weston Bailey
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 34, moved here 6 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Old Town and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
21 upvotes
Jaxon Anderson
I've lived in Uptown for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by public transit. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Lots of new development happening
- The walkability scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for families. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
20 upvotes
Connor R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Portland about 7 years ago. The main reasons were family and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are affordable, gas is solid.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Naomi
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in retail. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
17 upvotes
Parker Mitchell
+1
15 upvotes
Parker Diaz
I've lived in Midtown for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Affordable housing options
- The walkability scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Limited shopping options
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
9 upvotes
Nathan M.
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great seafood places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
7 upvotes
Logan C.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The cost of living is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
7 upvotes
Amelia Wood
as a local I can confirm
7 upvotes
Naomi A.
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, Happy to answer more specific questions..
7 upvotes
Adam W.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
6 upvotes
Jace D.
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 community vibe is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Fairview) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare 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.
3 upvotes
Grace Miller
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
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