Hello, I'm a nurse at the local hospital and It's a a smaller city city with about 62,405 people. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. What do you all think? Thanks for reading. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
18 upvotes
25 Replies
Quinn Johnson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 26, moved here 7 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Midtown and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The safety situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Houston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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
Nicholas Mendoza
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 1 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Pine Hills side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
Quinn Perez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 4 years. Moved from Houston for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2015 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:**
real estate is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - 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. Highland 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. Nightlife is limited. Dating scene is rough. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
36 upvotes
Henry Gray
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in The Heights area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
36 upvotes
Isaac Alvarez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Westside) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Dating scene 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.
35 upvotes
oaklanddude2021
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in Fairview area are decent. Kids love it here.
33 upvotes
Lily Jimenez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Dallas it's tough.
31 upvotes
Benjamin Carter
I'm a physical therapist and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is improving and there's always something going on.
30 upvotes
Lisa W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 27, moved here 7 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Old Town and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The cost of living situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 reasonable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$120K 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.
30 upvotes
adeline_guy
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Close to major attractions
- The housing market scene is tough
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
Harper R.
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
24 upvotes
Jonathan Bailey
same here
24 upvotes
Owen Davis
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 6 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
Hunter M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
22 upvotes
Asher Rivera
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cultural scene. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
21 upvotes
Vivian Davis
This.
17 upvotes
Nathan Morgan
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Denver about 5 years ago. The main reasons were weather and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Can feel isolated
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are pricey, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Happy to answer more specific questions..
15 upvotes
Dominic Kelly
Bought a house here in 2022 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
14 upvotes
Noah Hall
not my experience at all
13 upvotes
Bella
good to know, thanks
12 upvotes
Ruby Garcia
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in consulting. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Carter Campbell
My experience has been mostly positive. I love the pace of life here. The only thing I'd watch out for is healthcare. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
7 upvotes
Violet
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 10 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good healthcare facilities
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are wild, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Happy to answer more specific questions..
6 upvotes
Waylon Peterson
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
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