Hi all, I'm a 42-year-old data analyst and The median home value here is around $295,500, which seems about average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. What would you do? It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
13 upvotes
30 Replies
Wayne T.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is decent in most areas.
40 upvotes
Camila Morris
honestly same experience here
40 upvotes
Nova
This.
40 upvotes
Sebastian D.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. No regrets on my end..
39 upvotes
sdchef2020
I've lived in East for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Active local events and festivals
- Good airport with direct flights
- The public transit scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
35 upvotes
Robert Evans
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cost of living. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
33 upvotes
Lucas
I work in legal here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is excellent. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
32 upvotes
Joseph Roberts
Moved here from Denver about 6 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
31 upvotes
Nathan B.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Skylar Ortiz
My experience has been mostly positive. it's improved dramatically in recent years. The only thing I'd watch out for is job market. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
27 upvotes
chicago_silas
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Springfield area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
22 upvotes
Zoey Thompson
Came here for retirement and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The food scene is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
22 upvotes
Angel Sanders
preach
21 upvotes
Ella Clark
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to San Diego it's hit or miss.
20 upvotes
Austin R.
I work in manufacturing here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is better than expected. Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Jaxon H.
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great BBQ places. I love the pace of life here.
17 upvotes
Allison S.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to New York it's underrated.
16 upvotes
Waylon Morris
literally same
15 upvotes
Axel Smith
Moved here last year, no regrets.
15 upvotes
Elijah Cruz
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from San Diego about 6 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is underrated.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
13 upvotes
Carson Chavez
I work in healthcare here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
Brooks Castillo
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 1 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
12 upvotes
Ezra Allen
yep
12 upvotes
Daniel
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
9 upvotes
Maverick Ross
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
7 upvotes
Peyton Chavez
couldn't agree more
7 upvotes
Henry Phillips
I've lived in Old Town for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- The outdoor recreation scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Can feel isolated
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for remote workers. Definitely worth checking out..
5 upvotes
Aurora Jones
lol so true
5 upvotes
Lillian Campbell
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 7 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Piper Sanders
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Fairview. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like seafood.
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