First post here. I'm a college student here and It's a a smaller city city with about 95,358 people. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Would love some local perspective.
24 upvotes
7 Replies
Wyatt D.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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
Leonardo Myers
glad someone said it
23 upvotes
Samuel
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from San Diego about 6 years ago. The main reasons were work and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are wild, gas is decent.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
nyc_evelyn
Came here for retirement and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The public transit is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
14 upvotes
Greyson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Downtown) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
6 upvotes
Noah Carter
Weather-wise, the summers are average and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
1 upvotes
Doris F.
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much wild but now it's excellent.
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