Hi all, Rent is about $1,823/month for a decent place. Homes are going for about $641,700 on average. The median home value here is around $641,700, which is pretty steep. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. What would you do? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The suburbs are where most families end up. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The suburbs are where most families end up. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The weather takes some getting used to. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
15 upvotes
6 Replies
Evan Edwards
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 51, moved here 5 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in East and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The weather situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for young professionals. average 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 Minneapolis, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K 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.
40 upvotes
Kaylee Kim
Came here for school and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The traffic is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Isabelle Brooks
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 2 years. Moved from New York for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2016 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. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering 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:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is solid - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are decent. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Dating scene is rough. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
27 upvotes
milwaukee_landon
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 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 The Heights. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in legal. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Definitely worth checking out..
22 upvotes
Emilia M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 10 years. Moved from Phoenix for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are pretty good. 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 very walkable outside downtown. Chain restaurants dominate. And housing market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
8 upvotes
Katherine Hernandez
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in East area are solid. Kids love it here.
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