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victoria_guy
moving
Anyone regret moving to Staunton?
Hey everyone, Born and raised here. The median home value here is around $239,300, which
12 upvotes
21 Replies
Kayden Gutierrez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a nurse who relocated here from New York about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I'm a nurse who relocated here from New York about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Dating scene is rough
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Bradley S.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 27, moved here 7 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Springfield and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The cultural scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Austin, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K 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.
Background: I'm a teacher, 27, moved here 7 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Springfield and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The cultural scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: 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 Austin, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K 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.
33 upvotes
logan_rider
this is the way
30 upvotes
Daniel James
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Riverside side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
29 upvotes
Owen Kim
same here
29 upvotes
Cooper Robinson
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great BBQ places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
24 upvotes
Julian Ward
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
23 upvotes
Declan Bailey
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
21 upvotes
Ashley G.
glad someone said it
18 upvotes
Valentina
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 33, moved here 12 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Riverside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The safety situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K 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.
Background: I'm a writer, 33, moved here 12 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Riverside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Low crime in most neighborhoods
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The safety situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$140K 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.
18 upvotes
bennett_fan
as a local I can confirm
17 upvotes
Hazel Ross
I'm a physical therapist and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
15 upvotes
Olivia Gonzalez
couldn't agree more
14 upvotes
Maya N.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 5 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 5 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Leah T.
I'm a lawyer and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. The community is solid and there's always something going on.
11 upvotes
Carson
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Italian places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
10 upvotes
Angel Price
great question, following
7 upvotes
Hailey Sanchez
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 6 years. Moved from Portland for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. finance 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:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Old Town schools are average. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Old Town for 6 years. Moved from Portland for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. finance 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:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is better than expected - 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. Old Town schools are average. 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. Far from beaches/mountains. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Julia R.
Came here for work and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The walkability is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
6 upvotes
Jackson
I work in marketing here and I have mixed feelings honestly. The job market for my field is pretty good. No regrets on my end..
4 upvotes
leah_life
bump
1 upvotes