Not sure if this has been asked before, but I'm a 46-year-old physical therapist and It's a a mid-size city city with about 206K people. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is about average. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much.
59 upvotes
9 Replies
Daniel J.
Saving this thread
38 upvotes
Grayson
I've lived in West for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Baltimore, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
- The food scene scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for young professionals. Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Quinn A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Springfield. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in finance. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Indian.
No regrets on my end..
34 upvotes
Emilia M.
+1
33 upvotes
Declan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in tech. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
Emilia Sanchez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
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