Quality of Life
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10/30/2012
The costs are not bad here. Crime is high especially against women and domestic violence is out of control. There is a "no fault" divorce here which means someone always gets messed over. Laws are sloppy not well enforced.
Hospitals are not real good. Quality is average. Doctor visits take care of one issue at a time so if you have more than one issue you need to make back to back appointments paying a deductible for each one. Mental Health services are backlogged.
Homeless Shelter is one of the best in the country but overloaded also. Notre Dame rules here, unfortunately unless you have money that will hurt you not help you. (I can't say they follow Catholic principles of helping the poor.)
Housing costs are more than reasonable but property taxes high. Sales tax is about average, city license on pets is reasonable. They have bus transport but only in a limited area. Crime is on the rise here. Certain parts of town you cannot walk in the dusk and definitely not after dark.
Winters are harsh, sometimes with large amounts of snow due to lake effect. Summers are usually pleasant. Fall is quite beautiful although most people travel to southern Indiana for the best Fall color. You are within a half hour from Michigan so travel to the Parks there is fun.
There are museums and theater as well as plenty of colleges close by. Libraries are ample and available what ever side of town you live on. The jobs aren't bad if you are just starting but you need to know someone who knows someone if you are in management. If you move here out of the blue your qualifications will get you a second rate job without a connection. (No matter what you do.)
Great place for biological or scientific entrepreneurs as there are several buildings dedicated to this. Nano technology is what they are working on now. In that respect, it is a good place.
Jami EC | South Bend, IN