Not sure if this has been asked before, but I work in legal and Homes are going for about $405,500 on average. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. What would you do?
5 upvotes
27 Replies
Sarah Cook
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
36 upvotes
Ezekiel A.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
33 upvotes
Charlotte Lee
this is the way
31 upvotes
Noah
underrated comment
30 upvotes
noladude2026
lol so true
29 upvotes
Andrew K.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Homeless population growing downtown.
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.
27 upvotes
Rylee Collins
I've lived in Springfield for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it exceeded my expectations. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Good internet infrastructure
- The weather scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for retirees. Feel free to reach out with questions..
26 upvotes
Audrey J.
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Miami, I was surprised by nightlife. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- The outdoor recreation scene is pretty good
The downsides:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Clara White
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Cedar Grove. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
23 upvotes
Aiden Lewis
bump
23 upvotes
Stella James
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
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
Peyton King
+1
21 upvotes
Emily Morgan
spot on
18 upvotes
Santiago Cooper
seconding this
17 upvotes
indy_hunter
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a real estate agent, 46, moved here 14 years ago from LA. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Can feel isolated
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: 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 LA, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
15 upvotes
oaklandrunner2022
Public transit is average here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
15 upvotes
Camila King
I work in manufacturing here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is pretty good. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
13 upvotes
Mackenzie H.
seconding this
12 upvotes
Sarah Long
couldn't agree more
7 upvotes
Miles Sanchez
100%
7 upvotes
Dominic Turner
not my experience at all
5 upvotes
Victoria Richardson
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is tough in most areas.
5 upvotes
lalocal2021
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Hope this helps!.
3 upvotes
Hunter Robinson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely improving and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
1 upvotes
Emilia
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Austin about 10 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Not very walkable outside downtown
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are wild, gas is excellent.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
1 upvotes
Kyle B.
I've lived in The Heights for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Strong job market in several industries
- The community vibe scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for singles. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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