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Miles Kim
housing
Is it worth buying in Columbia?
I'm a college student here and Homes are going for about $261,700 on average. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
18 upvotes
11 Replies
Madeline
+1
40 upvotes
Emily
bump
37 upvotes
Skylar Anderson
seconding this
34 upvotes
Gabriella Peterson
I've lived in East for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good internet infrastructure
- The walkability scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good internet infrastructure
- The walkability scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for retirees. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Declan Watson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Riverside) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
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.
28 upvotes
Stella W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Dallas about 13 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good airport with direct flights
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Dallas about 13 years ago. The main reasons were school and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good airport with direct flights
- Strong sense of community
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is average.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
16 upvotes
Lily White
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 13 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the North 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 13 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
14 upvotes
Luna Phillips
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 4 years. Moved from Miami for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Springfield for 4 years. Moved from Miami for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 9/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
Amelia K.
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The dating scene is pretty good compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
6 upvotes
Paisley Evans
lol so true
5 upvotes
Sofia Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in real estate. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Highland. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in real estate. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
0 upvotes