Hi all, We have two kids and The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is pretty low. You can expect to pay around $1,528 for rent here. Household incomes average around $76,196 in St. Cloud. It's a a smaller city city with about 61,963 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. What do you all think? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
24 upvotes
14 Replies
alexander_kid
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Fairview) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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.
40 upvotes
Waylon G.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 5 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
40 upvotes
tucsonmama2021
Hot take but it's not perfect but it works for me. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
39 upvotes
Santiago
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is underrated in most areas.
37 upvotes
Hannah Hill
not my experience at all
34 upvotes
Aurora N.
big facts right here
29 upvotes
Miles W.
Moved here from Chicago about 2 years ago. the quality of life is solid. Still getting used to healthcare but Definitely worth checking out..
28 upvotes
Dylan M.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Mexican places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
26 upvotes
Axel Cruz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Atlanta about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Josiah R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
20 upvotes
Connor M.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
20 upvotes
John M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Austin about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are wild, gas is better than expected.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. No regrets on my end..
19 upvotes
Madison R.
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great craft beer places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
16 upvotes
Douglas B.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely solid and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Downtown) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Diego, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
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