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Mary R.
living
Honest thoughts on life in Centennial
First post here. I've been here for 10 years and Anyone in a similar situation?
7 upvotes
17 Replies
Elijah
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: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in education. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Springfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in education. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Definitely worth checking out..
40 upvotes
Nicholas Phillips
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
I've been here 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
39 upvotes
Wesley Martin
thanks for sharing
36 upvotes
Christian D.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
36 upvotes
Hazel Gonzalez
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor recreation is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
30 upvotes
Mackenzie Parker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 5 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the housing market is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
29 upvotes
tucsonchef2020
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 14 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 14 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Gianna
Weather-wise, the summers are hit or miss and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
26 upvotes
Ariana
lol so true
25 upvotes
charlotteheart2025
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 7 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
22 upvotes
Sophia White
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
Adeline J.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 3 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
20 upvotes
Willie W.
yeah no that's not right
17 upvotes
Kevin H.
Bought a house here in 2021 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone about the same since then.
15 upvotes
Emma Collins
glad someone said it
9 upvotes
John Murphy
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Meadowbrook area are pretty good. Kids love it here.
5 upvotes
Mia W.
Saving this thread
4 upvotes