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Melanie Ward best-worst

What surprised you most about Wasilla?

Not sure if this has been asked before, but Just moved here 15 months ago and The unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is about average. Median household income is $70,756, which feels about average for the area. Homes are going for about $325,000 on average. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What are your go-to spots? The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The weather takes some getting used to. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The city has invested a lot in new development.
10 upvotes

2 Replies

Rylee Gutierrez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.

Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in engineering you might struggle.

People: Generally decent. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Italian.

It's not for everyone but it works for us..
34 upvotes
Anna Ward
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value food scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (East) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.

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
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