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Everett Taylor
best-worst
Top 5 things I love about Balch Springs
First post here. Crime rate is something to consider -Balch Springs sits at 646.
25 upvotes
24 Replies
Genesis J.
glad someone said it
38 upvotes
Reagan A.
I'm a marketing manager and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
38 upvotes
Luca Myers
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 51, moved here 6 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Downtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Strong job market in several industries
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. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Boston, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
Background: I'm a writer, 51, moved here 6 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Downtown and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Strong job market in several industries
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. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. challenging vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Boston, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $70K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
37 upvotes
Lily Robinson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Miami about 1 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
I'm a writer who relocated here from Miami about 1 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Good luck with whatever you decide..
36 upvotes
Nicholas Nguyen
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
35 upvotes
Nolan W.
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
30 upvotes
Jacob Patel
Came here for retirement and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The dating scene is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
29 upvotes
Sarah R.
We moved here with our family and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Schools in Highland area are hit or miss. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
Naomi Ramirez
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. it was the best decision I ever made.
28 upvotes
Kathleen T.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Denver about 9 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is decent.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Happy to answer more specific questions..
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Denver about 9 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- Active local events and festivals
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is decent.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Happy to answer more specific questions..
27 upvotes
desert_riley39
wish I knew this sooner
27 upvotes
Xavier
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 3 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 3 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
24 upvotes
sd_victoria
Came here for weather and stayed because I genuinely enjoy living here. The dating scene is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
23 upvotes
Allison Anderson
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
21 upvotes
minneapolisheart2026
Totally agree!
19 upvotes
Dominic
I work in engineering here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is surprisingly good. Hope this helps!.
19 upvotes
Caleb Wood
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 7 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 7 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
15 upvotes
tucsonkid2026
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Greenfield side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
13 upvotes
Jayden Smith
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Downtown area are decent. Kids love it here.
13 upvotes
cincygirl2021
been saying this for years
5 upvotes
Lily Ortiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in consulting. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Pine Hills. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in consulting. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
4 upvotes
chill_kaylee49
Came here for quality of life and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The walkability is honestly average and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
3 upvotes
Katherine C.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
3 upvotes
Delilah Turner
seconding this
2 upvotes