OK so I'm originally from Portland and The median home value here is around $313,000, which seems about average. With a population of 14,827, Cherry Hill Mall is a small town. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. What would you do? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
14 upvotes
12 Replies
Hailey B.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Chicago it's excellent.
39 upvotes
Julia B.
hard disagree but ok
37 upvotes
Zoe H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 25, moved here 5 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Springfield and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Affordable housing options
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited entertainment options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The dating scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for retirees. solid 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 Chicago, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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
Mackenzie Ward
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in West area are tough. Kids love it here.
33 upvotes
Gary J.
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much manageable but now it's average.
33 upvotes
Leonardo Price
exactly what I was thinking
31 upvotes
Leonardo Jackson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely pretty good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (West) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
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.
20 upvotes
Kaylee Thomas
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 5 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the South side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Mackenzie Jones
not my experience at all
14 upvotes
Willow Bailey
great question, following
8 upvotes
Gianna Price
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
5 upvotes
Amelia
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in West area are tough. Kids love it here.
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