Curious what people think. Born and raised here. With a population of 43,971, Columbia is a smaller city. Crime rate is something to consider -Columbia sits at 642.5 per 100K. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The weather takes some getting used to. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
28 upvotes
7 Replies
Aubrey Turner
Bought a house here in 2020 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
38 upvotes
Adam James
nah I disagree
32 upvotes
Emmett
I've lived in The Heights for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Atlanta, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Four distinct seasons
- The traffic scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Nightlife is limited
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
20 upvotes
Sofia Carter
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely underrated and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Downtown) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
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.
16 upvotes
Chloe K.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
7 upvotes
Nicholas Wright
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from San Diego about 1 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good healthcare facilities
- Strong job market in several industries
Cons that are real:
- Homeless population growing downtown
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Feel free to reach out with questions..
2 upvotes
Claire
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Austin it's average.
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