Curious what people think. I'm single, late 30s, and You can expect to pay around $1,019 for rent here. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Should I be concerned? The weather takes some getting used to. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level.
15 upvotes
12 Replies
philly_jordan
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Chicago about 4 years ago. The main reasons were school and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are established, gas is tough.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
39 upvotes
Logan M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. the quality of life is solid. Compared to Portland it's excellent.
37 upvotes
Cora Wilson
yeah no that's not right
36 upvotes
Mateo Gonzalez
big facts right here
33 upvotes
Joseph N.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely hit or miss and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (South) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
31 upvotes
Emily Martinez
accurate
29 upvotes
Kinsley
glad someone said it
25 upvotes
Noah James
haha yep pretty much
20 upvotes
Sophie Bennett
Came here for family and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The school system is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
10 upvotes
Scarlett G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Minneapolis 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 Cedar Grove. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in construction. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
7 upvotes
Maya Roberts
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
6 upvotes
Paul W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Uptown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
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