Military spouse here. Household incomes average around $94,952 in University Place. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cheers. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
14 upvotes
28 Replies
Lucy Jones
underrated comment
39 upvotes
bostonnative2020
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Dallas about 12 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Decent public transit for the size
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are growing, gas is underrated.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Definitely worth checking out..
39 upvotes
Mia H.
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I love the pace of life here.
37 upvotes
Mia Adams
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
37 upvotes
Lucas Cook
Moved here from Phoenix about 4 years ago. it's been a really good experience overall. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Stella M.
spot on
32 upvotes
Levi Martin
This.
31 upvotes
Riley Gray
preach
31 upvotes
Jonathan J.
this is the way
29 upvotes
Christopher G.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is challenging in most areas.
27 upvotes
Chloe Morgan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in East. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
27 upvotes
Valentina Moore
Moved here from Austin about 10 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to cost of living but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
26 upvotes
Luna Martin
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Uptown) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
25 upvotes
Austin Williams
literally same
25 upvotes
Willow Foster
Saving this thread
24 upvotes
Victoria Collins
honestly same experience here
23 upvotes
Camila Kim
same here
23 upvotes
Xavier Price
interesting, hadn't considered that
15 upvotes
jayden_dude
I've been living here for 8 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The healthcare is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
15 upvotes
Luna Chavez
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The nightlife is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
14 upvotes
Caroline
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. public transit used to be much competitive but now it's solid.
14 upvotes
Melanie Gutierrez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 15 years. Moved from Boston for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are surprisingly good. 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. Winters are long and cold. Not very walkable outside downtown. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Leo Allen
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely solid and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (North) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
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.
10 upvotes
Caroline R.
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in West area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
8 upvotes
Ethan Wright
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is job market. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
4 upvotes
Michael R.
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The cost of living is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
1 upvotes
Silas Ross
this is the way
0 upvotes
Piper C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Baltimore about 13 years ago. The main reasons were work and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are wild, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
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