Been meaning to ask this. You can expect to pay around $1,316 for rent here. Homes are going for about $284,900 on average. It's a a small town city with about 12,283 people. Rent is about $1,316/month for a decent place. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
11 upvotes
7 Replies
Julia Ramirez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 31, moved here 6 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Maple Ridge and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 Dallas, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. 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.
37 upvotes
Jacob Phillips
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Portland about 15 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
35 upvotes
Nevaeh Mitchell
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Houston it's surprisingly good.
22 upvotes
Melanie Gonzalez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in marketing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
19 upvotes
Michael F.
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in Cedar Grove area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
14 upvotes
Adeline Gutierrez
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are hit or miss, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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