Alright, Military spouse here. What do you all think? TIA! The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
3 upvotes
6 Replies
Cora
Came here for family and stayed because it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor recreation is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Liam Chavez
Bought a house here in 2015 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
26 upvotes
Matthew F.
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Asian places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
17 upvotes
Roman L.
noted, appreciate it
14 upvotes
Kimberly N.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 28, moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in North and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for singles. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: 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 Atlanta, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K 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.
10 upvotes
Aubrey Ruiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Lakewood. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.