First post here. Just moved here 18 months ago and With a population of 7,712, St. Johns is a small town. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Has anyone dealt with this? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
4 upvotes
14 Replies
Aria Kim
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 34, moved here 6 years ago from Miami. I've lived in West and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Can feel isolated
3. The job market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Miami, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
35 upvotes
Stephen L.
interesting, hadn't considered that
33 upvotes
Scarlett Hill
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in retail. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
No regrets on my end..
30 upvotes
Jaxon Bailey
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 11 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Josiah P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 41, moved here 6 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Eastside and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The nightlife situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for young professionals. solid vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
28 upvotes
Isaiah
following this thread
27 upvotes
Camila L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 55, moved here 5 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The public transit situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for couples. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 LA, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
24 upvotes
Aubrey Rivera
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great Mexican places. it's been a really good experience overall.
19 upvotes
Aubrey Peterson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 37, moved here 2 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in The Heights and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Four distinct seasons
2. Close to major attractions
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Limited shopping options
3. The pet-friendliness situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for families. decent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Nashville, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
17 upvotes
Brooks Jimenez
accurate
13 upvotes
Brooklyn Evans
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Downtown for 11 years. Moved from Boston for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 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. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have hiking trails 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 excellent. 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 a lot of cultural diversity. Chain restaurants dominate. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
Leah
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Riverside. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in education. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Lillian H.
seconding this
5 upvotes
Natalie T.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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