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Nathan Collins moving

Moving from Minneapolis to Skowhegan next month

So, I've been here for 14 years and Poverty rate is 8.8%, which is pretty low. It's a a small town city with about 6,638 people. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. What do you all think? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
4 upvotes

15 Replies

Riley Allen
I'm a chef and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
40 upvotes
Willow Bennett
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is underrated in most areas.
38 upvotes
katherine_native
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Salt Lake City it's surprisingly good.
33 upvotes
Bradley P.
Bought a house here in 2019 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
26 upvotes
Eva W.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cultural scene. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
24 upvotes
Hunter N.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Minneapolis about 5 years ago. The main reasons were weather and school.

Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Diverse dining options
- Lots of family-friendly activities

Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Property taxes are high

Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is solid.

Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Happy to answer more specific questions..
21 upvotes
Hazel
I'm a project manager and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
21 upvotes
Mason Hall
nah I disagree
15 upvotes
Jackson W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a data analyst, 35, moved here 3 years ago from Austin. I've lived in North and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The outdoor recreation situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Austin, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.

**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
14 upvotes
Landon Ortiz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Greenfield for 9 years. Moved from Phoenix for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.

**Employment:**
tech is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is decent - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are underrated. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Homeless population growing downtown. And housing market can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
11 upvotes
aurora_lover
I've lived in Uptown for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. 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:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Close to major attractions
- The traffic scene is underrated

The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Not very walkable outside downtown

Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Josiah Young
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
9 upvotes
connor_walker
hmm interesting perspective
9 upvotes
bostonpapa2025
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
9 upvotes
Hailey E.
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
4 upvotes
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