Anyone else feel this way? I'm a teacher here and Poverty rate is 5.2%, which is pretty low. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
27 upvotes
12 Replies
Miles L.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Daniel
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
31 upvotes
Michael P.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Good luck with whatever you decide..
31 upvotes
Alexander B.
Bought a house here in 2017 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
26 upvotes
Virginia K.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Definitely worth checking out..
26 upvotes
Hailey
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 24, moved here 2 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The housing market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Boston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
22 upvotes
Andrew Cooper
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Uptown) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
20 upvotes
Caroline Jackson
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Southern places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
12 upvotes
Allison Watson
glad someone said it
8 upvotes
Miles C.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
2 upvotes
Brian R.
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much established but now it's tough.
1 upvotes
Maya Reyes
I've lived in East for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by job market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- The public transit scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
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