Just moved here 8 months ago and Household incomes average around $90,677 in Bloomington. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Anyone in a similar situation? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
5 upvotes
29 Replies
Everett G.
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 4 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit 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. healthcare 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 exceeded my expectations. 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. Pine Hills schools are average. 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. Chain restaurants dominate. Homeless population growing downtown. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 6/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Adeline Davis
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 15 years. Moved from Seattle for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. finance 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 was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is tough - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are pretty good. 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. Rising rent and home prices. Bugs and humidity in summer. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
40 upvotes
Luca Myers
glad someone said it
38 upvotes
river_waylon8
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if traffic matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Noah Price
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 26, moved here 6 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Property taxes are high
3. The public transit situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: 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 Miami, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K 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.
35 upvotes
Levi Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 54, moved here 7 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in West and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - 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 traffic situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. average vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 Phoenix, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K 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.
35 upvotes
Zoey Patel
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great Southern places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
35 upvotes
Everett R.
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Thai places. it's been a really good experience overall.
34 upvotes
Kenneth A.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Houston about 3 years ago. The main reasons were weather and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Close to major attractions
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are growing, gas is pretty good.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
33 upvotes
Hunter Taylor
I work in real estate here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is challenging. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
32 upvotes
Jace Harris
great question, following
30 upvotes
Addison B.
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor recreation is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
30 upvotes
Peyton Bennett
as a local I can confirm
30 upvotes
Weston Young
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 8 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Isaac C.
as a local I can confirm
28 upvotes
Evan Brown
I'm a pharmacist and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
26 upvotes
Kaylee Parker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Charlotte, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
24 upvotes
John Murphy
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely solid and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Fairview) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
22 upvotes
Alice C.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Westside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in government. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Definitely worth checking out..
21 upvotes
Abigail Green
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
20 upvotes
Cheryl T.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
17 upvotes
Evelyn Ramirez
spot on
15 upvotes
Roman M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely challenging and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Downtown) is affordable 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.
11 upvotes
miamimama2021
noted, appreciate it
10 upvotes
Dominic Gutierrez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
10 upvotes
Jonathan Stewart
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
9 upvotes
seattlepapa2025
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
4 upvotes
Jordan Roberts
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Baltimore about 9 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is solid.
Socially, the quality of life is solid. Happy to answer more specific questions..
2 upvotes
Connor Brooks
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is average in most areas.
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