OK so Just moved here 1 months ago and Median household income is $75,905, which feels about average for the area. The median home value here is around $473,300, which is pretty steep. Poverty rate is 6.2%, which is pretty low. Crime rate is something to consider -Westchester sits at 231.7 per 100K. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Let me know your thoughts.
17 upvotes
27 Replies
Christian W.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 12 years. Moved from Atlanta for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is tough - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are challenging. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Dating scene is rough. Homeless population growing downtown. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Jonathan R.
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Korean places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
38 upvotes
Hailey Carter
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely hit or miss and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
37 upvotes
Sophia Taylor
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is solid in most areas.
37 upvotes
Landon R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 31, moved here 10 years ago from Houston. I've lived in The Heights and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Close to major attractions
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K 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.
36 upvotes
Angel L.
yep
29 upvotes
Anna Edwards
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The school system is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
jacob_girl
bump
27 upvotes
Maverick Ramos
not my experience at all
26 upvotes
Luke Jackson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 37, moved here 11 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally decent - 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 weather situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for retirees. better than expected 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 Minneapolis, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $90K-$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.
26 upvotes
Levi Rogers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely better than expected and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Eastside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
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.
25 upvotes
Lily Hall
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. the quality of life is solid. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
22 upvotes
Ariana Taylor
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
22 upvotes
Aaliyah Adams
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
22 upvotes
Kaylee R.
not my experience at all
21 upvotes
Ruby Ruiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in North. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in tech. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
portlandlocal2024
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in construction. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
17 upvotes
Noah P.
not my experience at all
17 upvotes
Maverick P.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want weather, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Jonathan Foster
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (North) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
14 upvotes
Thomas Hughes
underrated comment
14 upvotes
Aubrey C.
I work in government here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is challenging. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
jaxchef2023
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Minneapolis 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 South. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in finance. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
5 upvotes
Naomi Moore
bump
3 upvotes
Maverick
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much reasonable but now it's decent.
2 upvotes
Ryan O.
not my experience at all
2 upvotes
Wesley Cook
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Cedar Grove for 13 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is decent - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Cedar Grove schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Not very walkable outside downtown. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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