Random thought, My partner and I are The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about average. Household incomes average around $47,970 in Wilkes-Barre. You can expect to pay around $939 for rent here. It's a a smaller city city with about 44,217 people. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Am I overthinking this? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
10 upvotes
27 Replies
Arianna Hughes
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Asian places. it's exactly what I was looking for.
40 upvotes
Everett Wright
underrated comment
40 upvotes
Hailey Carter
hard disagree but ok
40 upvotes
Joseph Jones
Moved here from Phoenix about 9 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to cultural scene but Good luck with whatever you decide..
38 upvotes
Bella Watson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. safety 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.
38 upvotes
Wesley Cruz
I'm a marketing manager and I've found the quality of life is solid. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
37 upvotes
Victoria Phillips
I've lived in North for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
- The community vibe scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. No regrets on my end..
36 upvotes
Jacob Phillips
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 37, moved here 8 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Westside and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The traffic situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for singles. underrated 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 Houston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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
Megan R.
nah I disagree
36 upvotes
Evan Martin
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 6 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Sunset side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
31 upvotes
Naomi Bennett
+1
30 upvotes
Amelia B.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 15 years. Moved from Tampa for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are decent. 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. Limited high-paying job options. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Camila R.
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The housing market is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Aiden Rodriguez
Moved here last year, no regrets.
25 upvotes
Anna Mitchell
This.
23 upvotes
henry_heart
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 50, moved here 12 years ago from New York. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for remote workers. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 New York, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
22 upvotes
Delilah R.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is walkability. Other than that, It's not for everyone but it works for us..
19 upvotes
Abigail Ward
great question, following
15 upvotes
Samuel
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is tough in most areas.
14 upvotes
Lily Harris
I've been living here for 12 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The school system is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
11 upvotes
Gabriella A.
same here
11 upvotes
Eliana Perez
nah I disagree
10 upvotes
Nathan Rivera
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
Daniel S.
yeah no that's not right
8 upvotes
Jacob C.
100%
2 upvotes
Wesley T.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in The Heights. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
Roman Bailey
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Westside area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
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