Hey everyone, I relocated for work and It's a a smaller city city with about 34,009 people. The unemployment rate is 0.8%, which is pretty low. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. Should I be concerned? Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
18 upvotes
29 Replies
Claire Flores
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Eastside. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Hope this helps!.
40 upvotes
Ezekiel Gutierrez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 50, moved here 6 years ago from LA. I've lived in West and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The traffic situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$130K 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.
39 upvotes
Wesley
accurate
38 upvotes
Matthew Robinson
Saving this thread
36 upvotes
Scarlett R.
accurate
33 upvotes
Carter P.
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The pet-friendliness is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
32 upvotes
Jessica C.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
29 upvotes
Liam Cox
exactly what I was thinking
29 upvotes
Cora C.
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the Midtown side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
28 upvotes
Eva Ross
My experience has been mostly positive. I genuinely enjoy living here. The only thing I'd watch out for is outdoor recreation. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
26 upvotes
Michael C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 10 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
23 upvotes
bennett_fan
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
Nova Myers
Used to live on the Eastside side, now on the Downtown side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
22 upvotes
John Anderson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 29, moved here 9 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in East and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The housing market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for families. 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 Tampa, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K 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.
17 upvotes
Gabriella Gray
same here
17 upvotes
Jeremiah Brown
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- The healthcare scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
15 upvotes
Grayson Jones
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is solid in most areas.
15 upvotes
Harper Wood
this is the way
14 upvotes
Nicholas
noted, appreciate it
14 upvotes
Connor W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 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 1-bed in Highland. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in construction. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
Allison P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 13 years. Moved from Denver for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2016 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. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is solid - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East 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. Limited public transit options. Far from beaches/mountains. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Julian Evans
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 13 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
9 upvotes
Leah
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
8 upvotes
chicago_silas
Moved here from Austin about 10 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to public transit but No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Madelyn Smith
not my experience at all
4 upvotes
nycrider2021
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Nashville about 13 years ago. The main reasons were work and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are competitive, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
3 upvotes
nola_evan
couldn't agree more
2 upvotes
David
yeah no that's not right
1 upvotes
Zoe Martin
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Tampa 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 Greenfield. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
All Countries
