I work in insurance and It's a a smaller city city with about 87,307 people. Average temperature is around 51--F, so expect cold winters. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Thoughts? Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
21 upvotes
20 Replies
Brielle
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 37, moved here 6 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Meadowbrook and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Can feel isolated
3. The cost of living situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for couples. decent 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 San Diego, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K 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.
40 upvotes
nola_lillian
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Maple Ridge. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in retail. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
40 upvotes
Olivia Perez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 12 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
34 upvotes
cora_dude
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 5 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
native_easton54
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Maple Ridge area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
26 upvotes
Kai
Bought a house here in 2019 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
22 upvotes
Matthew Clark
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is safety. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
20 upvotes
Adeline Price
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 7 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
19 upvotes
Jeremiah Nguyen
Bought a house here in 2019 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
17 upvotes
Arianna Ramos
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 1 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 Baltimore, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The community vibe scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Greyson Scott
Used to live on the Meadowbrook side, now on the East side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
17 upvotes
Delilah Cruz
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Miami it's solid.
16 upvotes
Avery J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 45, moved here 13 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Fairview and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. tough 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 San Diego, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
16 upvotes
Matthew Morgan
lol so true
15 upvotes
Arianna W.
I've lived in North for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of new development happening
- The job market scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
Avery Peterson
Bought a house here in 2018 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone about the same since then.
11 upvotes
Elijah
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much growing but now it's better than expected.
9 upvotes
Lillian K.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (The Heights) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
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.
All Countries
