Been meaning to ask this. I work in government and Poverty rate is 6.7%, which is pretty low. The suburbs are where most families end up. Would love some local perspective.
12 upvotes
21 Replies
Nicholas R.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
40 upvotes
Lillian Hill
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone about the same since then.
39 upvotes
Ezekiel Price
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 12 years. Moved from New York for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Downtown schools are average. 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. Summers can be brutally hot. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 5/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
37 upvotes
Brielle R.
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much reasonable but now it's underrated.
36 upvotes
Sofia M.
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much manageable but now it's tough.
34 upvotes
Logan Ramirez
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great sushi places. the quality of life is solid.
33 upvotes
Brooklyn Taylor
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 8 years. Moved from Baltimore for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is decent - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are hit or miss. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Road conditions need improvement. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Ezra C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 54, moved here 3 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Pine Hills and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The housing market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for remote workers. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Seattle, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $70K-$130K 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.
31 upvotes
Everett Edwards
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 13 years. Moved from Seattle for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are better than expected. 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Ellie O.
following this thread
27 upvotes
Cameron Wright
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 5 years ago. The main reasons were school and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Close to major attractions
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are developing, gas is decent.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
mesamind2025
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
25 upvotes
proud_camila95
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in construction. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Southern.
No regrets on my end..
23 upvotes
Benjamin G.
Moved here from Minneapolis about 14 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to school system but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
23 upvotes
Joseph A.
yeah no that's not right
21 upvotes
hannah_heart
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
18 upvotes
Olivia L.
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
18 upvotes
Kayden Nelson
thanks for sharing
13 upvotes
Samuel H.
yeah no that's not right
7 upvotes
Leonardo Young
literally same
7 upvotes
Aiden Green
Moved here from Raleigh about 13 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to community vibe but No regrets on my end..
All Countries
