Hey, Military spouse here. You can expect to pay around $1,490 for rent here. Poverty rate is 11.1%, which is around average. It's a a smaller city city with about 59,917 people. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Thoughts? The weather takes some getting used to. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
16 upvotes
4 Replies
Samuel Castillo
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
14 upvotes
Leah Allen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in education. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
Jeremiah Stewart
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 31, moved here 15 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Meadowbrook and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Summers can be brutally hot
3. The outdoor recreation situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- East: 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 Portland, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
12 upvotes
Eugene T.
Moved here from Phoenix about 11 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to healthcare but Hope this helps!.
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