Random thought, Military spouse here. It's a a smaller city city with about 57,224 people. Average temperature is around 62--F, so the weather is moderate. You can expect to pay around $1,789 for rent here. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Thanks in advance! There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
14 upvotes
13 Replies
Maya Cox
great question, following
37 upvotes
Victoria Rodriguez
Moved here last year, no regrets.
33 upvotes
Kennedy Miller
wish I knew this sooner
32 upvotes
Brooks Reed
it depends on the neighborhood
31 upvotes
James Chavez
haha yep pretty much
28 upvotes
Claire Campbell
yeah no that's not right
20 upvotes
Connor
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Cora Mitchell
not my experience at all
15 upvotes
Miles Bennett
literally same
14 upvotes
Wyatt
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want housing market, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Roy S.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 25, moved here 2 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Springfield and Meadowbrook, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The walkability situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for young professionals. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Meadowbrook: 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 Houston, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
10 upvotes
portlandheart2022
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 1 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cultural scene is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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