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atl_adeline
living
Is Smithfield getting better or worse?
Hello, The median home value here is around $406,300, which is pretty steep.
8 upvotes
15 Replies
Ryan Nelson
This.
38 upvotes
austin_dude
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is challenging in most areas.
37 upvotes
Waylon Cox
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (South) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (South) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
28 upvotes
Anna N.
accurate
26 upvotes
Sophie Ortiz
seconding this
24 upvotes
Aubrey M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 3 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 3 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Maple Ridge side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
willow_chef
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Francisco 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 Midtown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Hope this helps!.
18 upvotes
Wayne R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Cedar Grove. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Ezekiel Harris
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is excellent in most areas.
15 upvotes
Allison Martin
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Hope this helps!.
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Samuel Moore
lol so true
10 upvotes
Michael Walker
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much pricey but now it's improving.
6 upvotes
true_christian68
nah I disagree
4 upvotes
Benjamin Cox
I work in engineering here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is decent. Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
Angel R.
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
1 upvotes