Anyone else feel this way? I grew up here but left for a while. The median home value here is around $147,800, which is actually reasonable. With a population of 31,511, Shawnee is a smaller city. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Worth the trade-offs?
30 upvotes
6 Replies
Ellie Stewart
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Emmett Cox
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it was the best decision I ever made. No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Jacob Hernandez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Hope this helps!.
24 upvotes
Riley R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 53, moved here 3 years ago from New York. I've lived in Midtown and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The traffic situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
18 upvotes
Jace Gutierrez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 14 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into running, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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