Not sure if this has been asked before, but Military spouse here. It's a a smaller city city with about 51,054 people. Rent is about $1,134/month for a decent place. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The suburbs are where most families end up. Does this match your experience? Property taxes are high but you get good services. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
15 upvotes
22 Replies
Adeline Williams
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Pittsburgh it's underrated.
40 upvotes
Sebastian Martin
lol so true
38 upvotes
Eli W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely challenging and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
38 upvotes
Abigail
I work in real estate here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is average. Definitely worth checking out..
37 upvotes
Sadie Brown
Hot take but I have mixed feelings honestly. I know a lot of people disagree but after 3 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Isaac Roberts
interesting, hadn't considered that
32 upvotes
Sofia
This.
32 upvotes
alexa_local
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Old Town area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
30 upvotes
Vivian Phillips
nah I disagree
20 upvotes
Emilia Parker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 11 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into running, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
19 upvotes
Natalie Brown
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Asian places. it exceeded my expectations.
17 upvotes
Alan W.
Came here for retirement and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The housing market is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
16 upvotes
Piper
accurate
15 upvotes
Quinn Stewart
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
15 upvotes
Dylan Jones
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. housing market is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
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.
14 upvotes
Evan Collins
wish I knew this sooner
14 upvotes
Kai N.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 6 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
12 upvotes
Carson
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cultural scene used to be much developing but now it's better than expected.
8 upvotes
Elijah Murphy
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
6 upvotes
Kayden Brooks
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is decent in most areas.
4 upvotes
Tyler J.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Fairview for 1 years. Moved from New York for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. retail 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:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Fairview schools are excellent. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Dating scene is rough. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
2 upvotes
philly_declan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Lakewood. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
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