Random thought, I'm a teacher here and Poverty rate is 13.6%, which is around average. Homes are going for about $144,200 on average. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is pretty low. With a population of 71,542, St. Joseph is a smaller city. Property taxes are high but you get good services. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Am I wrong here? Thanks for reading. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
22 upvotes
30 Replies
Leonardo Anderson
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good internet infrastructure
- The dating scene scene is decent
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
36 upvotes
Zoe
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely solid and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (West) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
36 upvotes
Aria Cruz
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Barbara S.
literally same
32 upvotes
Sarah R.
big facts right here
30 upvotes
Santiago Ramirez
I'm a marketing manager and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
29 upvotes
Adrian Rogers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely tough and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. weather 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.
29 upvotes
Susan J.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
28 upvotes
Sarah Sanders
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 14 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Lakewood side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
Jaxon Bailey
I'm a marketing manager and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
20 upvotes
Victoria Ward
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
19 upvotes
Gabriel Baker
Can confirm, been here 14 years.
18 upvotes
Samuel Cook
good to know, thanks
18 upvotes
Noah Ramirez
I work in finance here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is solid. Definitely worth checking out..
16 upvotes
Lucas Wilson
good to know, thanks
16 upvotes
sacramentogirl2026
Moved here from Seattle about 12 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to cost of living but Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Austin Ramirez
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
12 upvotes
eli_runner
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is solid in most areas.
11 upvotes
Sophia Evans
big facts right here
11 upvotes
Thomas S.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 4 years. Moved from San Francisco for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2023 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:**
healthcare is strong here. government 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 was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is average - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Dating scene is rough. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Anna Reyes
Totally agree!
9 upvotes
Luca King
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in North. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in tech. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
6 upvotes
Nathan Price
honestly same experience here
6 upvotes
Nolan Martinez
great question, following
5 upvotes
Ralph S.
lol so true
3 upvotes
Emily M.
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The school system is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
3 upvotes
mountain_theodore5
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 11 years. Moved from Minneapolis for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. tech 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:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is decent - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are challenging. 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. Limited public transit options. Far from beaches/mountains. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
1 upvotes
Willow Flores
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 4 years. Moved from Portland for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are challenging. 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. Limited public transit options. Can feel isolated. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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