Anyone else feel this way? I'm a 45-year-old marketing manager and The median home value here is around $273,400, which seems about average. Rent is about $1,075/month for a decent place. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Am I wrong here?
1 upvotes
21 Replies
Matthew N.
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The nightlife is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
40 upvotes
Evan Rogers
We moved here with our family and it was the best decision I ever made. Schools in Downtown area are excellent. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Eva R.
Bought a house here in 2023 and I genuinely enjoy living here. Property values have gone about the same since then.
40 upvotes
Gianna Clark
glad someone said it
39 upvotes
Nevaeh
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Arianna Scott
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 26, moved here 8 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Fairview and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The healthcare situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 Dallas, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. 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.
25 upvotes
Linda P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 46, moved here 4 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in The Heights and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Can feel isolated
3. The public transit situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- The Heights: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Baltimore, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
24 upvotes
Jaxon C.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 44, moved here 5 years ago from Austin. I've lived in Eastside and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 Austin, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $50K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific 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.
23 upvotes
Mason Roberts
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Sunset area are improving. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
cool_angel92
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much stable but now it's hit or miss.
20 upvotes
Aubrey
yeah no that's not right
15 upvotes
Weston Howard
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if safety matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
12 upvotes
Miles Wilson
glad someone said it
10 upvotes
Mateo
hmm interesting perspective
10 upvotes
Elizabeth W.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much established but now it's average.
7 upvotes
Wesley Mitchell
I've lived in Old Town for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from LA, I was surprised by dating scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The outdoor recreation scene is average
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
Theodore
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 2 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are excellent. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. Limited entertainment options. And community vibe can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
5 upvotes
Isaiah C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in West. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in legal. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Definitely worth checking out..
3 upvotes
Jaxon Lewis
interesting, hadn't considered that
2 upvotes
Declan Rodriguez
Moved here from Baltimore about 9 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to cultural scene but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
0 upvotes
Emmett Moore
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 5 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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