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Natalie Watson
living
Is West Salem a good place to live?
I'm a 25-year-old graphic designer and Looking forward to hearing from you all. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
8 upvotes
14 Replies
Stella James
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in engineering. If you're in engineering you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Lydia Kelly
hmm interesting perspective
30 upvotes
Austin Young
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 39, moved here 9 years ago from Miami. I've lived in East and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The outdoor recreation situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. 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 Miami, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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, 39, moved here 9 years ago from Miami. I've lived in East and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The outdoor recreation situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for singles. 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 Miami, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
28 upvotes
Brielle Wright
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
27 upvotes
Autumn Jackson
wish I knew this sooner
22 upvotes
Connor F.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 5 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
I've been here 5 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
20 upvotes
Nova Diaz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 4 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 4 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Paisley Howard
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
17 upvotes
Landon Campbell
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
16 upvotes
Carol H.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 11 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
Michael Perez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Kinsley Flores
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Westside area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
12 upvotes
Hudson Phillips
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
11 upvotes
Natalie
wish I knew this sooner
5 upvotes