Anyone else feel this way? Just moved here 7 months ago and What would you do? Cheers. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
20 upvotes
24 Replies
Everett Mitchell
this is the way
40 upvotes
Colton P.
Bought a house here in 2023 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
39 upvotes
Mateo
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 33, moved here 14 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Old Town and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The job market situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. 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 Minneapolis, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$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.
37 upvotes
Connor Mitchell
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
35 upvotes
John Chavez
lol so true
34 upvotes
Jeremiah
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
34 upvotes
Luna Gutierrez
wish I knew this sooner
33 upvotes
Charlotte Martinez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 10 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
33 upvotes
Hunter
Bought a house here in 2024 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
30 upvotes
Brooks Brooks
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely underrated and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (The Heights) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
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
Easton
accurate
25 upvotes
Aaron Brown
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Italian places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
21 upvotes
Andrew Cooper
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 56, moved here 1 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Meadowbrook and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. decent vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 growing. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
21 upvotes
Cora Campbell
I work in real estate here and I genuinely enjoy living here. The job market for my field is average. Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Mackenzie Sanders
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in East. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in tech. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Korean.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
19 upvotes
Cora Murphy
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Springfield area are average. Kids love it here.
10 upvotes
Lillian C.
yep
8 upvotes
Zoey Hernandez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is food scene. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
8 upvotes
Adrian M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 6 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
6 upvotes
Lucy Lewis
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely average and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Springfield) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
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.
6 upvotes
Zoe Hall
+1
4 upvotes
Clara Baker
facts
3 upvotes
Hunter
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 57, moved here 8 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Riverside and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The traffic situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- Highland: 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 Denver, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K 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.
All Countries
