Hi all, I've been here for 13 years and Average temperature is around 55°F, so expect cold winters. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
47 upvotes
30 Replies
John W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from San Diego about 2 years ago. The main reasons were family and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is improving.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
Riley Perez
This.
36 upvotes
Sophia
glad someone said it
35 upvotes
Catherine P.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
34 upvotes
Grayson
Moved here from Pittsburgh about 11 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to community vibe but No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
Madeline Diaz
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely decent and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (East) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. school system is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
28 upvotes
real_leo53
lol so true
25 upvotes
desert_weston65
interesting, hadn't considered that
22 upvotes
Hannah Howard
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 51, moved here 12 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Midtown and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Close to major attractions
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The pet-friendliness situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Seattle, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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
Kai Peterson
Moved here last year, no regrets.
21 upvotes
proud_josiah24
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
20 upvotes
hunter_walker
couldn't agree more
20 upvotes
tampagirl2023
Public transit is underrated here. You'll probably need a car for most things. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
19 upvotes
Gabriella Peterson
it depends on the neighborhood
17 upvotes
Claire
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 40, moved here 12 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in North and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
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. Limited public transit options
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The job market situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Charlotte, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $70K-$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.
17 upvotes
Jayden Collins
noted, appreciate it
16 upvotes
Abigail Brooks
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
15 upvotes
Julian Lewis
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great sushi places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
13 upvotes
Violet
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely underrated and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Westside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Pittsburgh, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
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.
13 upvotes
Adrian B.
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The dating scene is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
12 upvotes
Kinsley
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
12 upvotes
Emmett
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in South. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
10 upvotes
Timothy C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Denver about 14 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are pricey, gas is decent.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
6 upvotes
Austin Gutierrez
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
4 upvotes
Alexa Baker
yep
3 upvotes
Isabelle T.
hmm interesting perspective
3 upvotes
Jonathan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in West. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in finance. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
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