It's a a mid-size city city with about 125K people. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
11 upvotes
25 Replies
Reagan Morgan
hard disagree but ok
39 upvotes
Victoria Collins
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 11 years. Moved from Boston for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. retail is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are challenging. 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. Can feel isolated. Dating scene is rough. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
35 upvotes
Vincent G.
thanks for sharing
33 upvotes
Aria Morales
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
28 upvotes
Sophia Torres
Moved here last year, no regrets.
28 upvotes
Keith T.
Moved here from Tampa about 5 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Still getting used to cost of living but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
25 upvotes
Valentina Hall
great question, following
25 upvotes
Chloe K.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 5 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
25 upvotes
Logan Mendoza
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are affordable. You get used to it after the first year.
25 upvotes
Eliana G.
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in Sunset area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
23 upvotes
Landon Lewis
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from San Francisco about 15 years ago. The main reasons were weather and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Decent public transit for the size
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is better than expected.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Definitely worth checking out..
23 upvotes
Ariana C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 15 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Gloria G.
underrated comment
17 upvotes
Adam Mitchell
preach
14 upvotes
Leo White
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to Baltimore it's tough.
13 upvotes
Sofia N.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 5 years. Moved from Denver for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2017 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. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are underrated. 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. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Chain restaurants dominate. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
12 upvotes
Elena
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Highland. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in retail. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
11 upvotes
Aiden Miller
nah I disagree
11 upvotes
Isabelle W.
seconding this
8 upvotes
Josiah
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely pretty good and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Riverside) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. job market 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.
7 upvotes
Santiago Edwards
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
7 upvotes
Thomas C.
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
4 upvotes
Lauren R.
as a local I can confirm
3 upvotes
Abigail Gomez
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Houston it's challenging.
0 upvotes
noladude2024
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
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