Been meaning to ask this. I'm retired and Rent is about $1,062/month for a decent place. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Should I be concerned? Thanks for reading. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
2 upvotes
7 Replies
Elijah R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Midtown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
39 upvotes
Alexander Lee
interesting, hadn't considered that
38 upvotes
Nathan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 47, moved here 1 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in West and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Diverse dining options
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. Winters are long and cold
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The dating scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Raleigh, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K 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.
31 upvotes
Joseph P.
spot on
15 upvotes
Elena Lewis
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Internet is tough in most areas.
14 upvotes
Dylan M.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 56, moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in East and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The cost of living situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for families. better than expected 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 Salt Lake City, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K 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.
14 upvotes
Nicole C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from Boston about 9 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Close to major attractions
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is decent.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
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