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Parker Collins
best-worst
Things that make Urbandale unique
Born and raised here. Average temperature is around 50--F, so expect cold winters. Am I wrong here?
17 upvotes
19 Replies
Nathan White
I work in marketing here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is better than expected. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
40 upvotes
Hudson Kim
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
40 upvotes
Elijah Jimenez
Weather-wise, the summers are pretty good and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
37 upvotes
Ella Bailey
spot on
37 upvotes
Olivia Ortiz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 39, moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Oak Park and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Raleigh, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
Background: I'm a project manager, 39, moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Oak Park and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The traffic situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: 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 Raleigh, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
35 upvotes
Liam Patel
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 27, moved here 4 years ago from Boston. I've lived in North and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The walkability situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for young professionals. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Boston, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 27, moved here 4 years ago from Boston. I've lived in North and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The walkability situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for young professionals. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Boston, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
33 upvotes
Scarlett Kelly
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Indian.
No regrets on my end..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in engineering. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Indian.
No regrets on my end..
33 upvotes
Olivia Edwards
good to know, thanks
31 upvotes
Michael Peterson
Came here for cost of living and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The pet-friendliness is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Claire
I work in tech here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is solid. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
26 upvotes
Mateo B.
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say it was the best decision I ever made. The healthcare is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
22 upvotes
Jeremiah Gutierrez
as a local I can confirm
17 upvotes
Henry Wilson
it depends on the neighborhood
10 upvotes
Addison
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
8 upvotes
Kai Patel
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are solid, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
8 upvotes
Chloe Wright
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 15 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
I've been here 15 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Sunset side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
7 upvotes
Jace W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 14 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Downtown and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The job market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Denver, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 14 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Downtown and North, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The job market situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- North: 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 Denver, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
7 upvotes
Delilah Flores
bump
5 upvotes
Dylan R.
thanks for sharing
4 upvotes