Alright, The median home value here is around $180,400, which is actually reasonable. It's a a small town city with about 11,044 people. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
0 upvotes
14 Replies
Christian Long
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 25, moved here 4 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Fairview and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Strong job market in several industries
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. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: 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 Francisco, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
39 upvotes
Eva Miller
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 55, moved here 12 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Old Town and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good healthcare facilities
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited shopping options
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for couples. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Phoenix, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
39 upvotes
Brielle Perez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in government. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
34 upvotes
Serenity Williams
100%
23 upvotes
Brielle Ruiz
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 28, moved here 3 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in South and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The outdoor recreation situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Pittsburgh, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
21 upvotes
Gabriel Cook
facts
21 upvotes
raised_eli47
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is solid in most areas.
21 upvotes
Santiago Castillo
100%
18 upvotes
Maya Gomez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
13 upvotes
Dylan Ross
preach
10 upvotes
Matthew
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value public transit, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely average and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Springfield) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability 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.
5 upvotes
portlandlover2022
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 37, moved here 5 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Pine Hills and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Decent public transit for the size
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The dating scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: 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 Houston, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K 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.
4 upvotes
Zoe Ward
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is outdoor recreation. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
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