So, Born and raised here. Poverty rate is 0.6%, which is pretty low. The city has invested a lot in new development. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
0 upvotes
13 Replies
Logan Nguyen
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
33 upvotes
omahaguy2026
I've lived in Springfield for about 15 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Active local events and festivals
- The cost of living scene is improving
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
26 upvotes
Nova James
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much wild but now it's surprisingly good.
24 upvotes
Eli J.
My experience has been mostly positive. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The only thing I'd watch out for is public transit. Other than that, Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
23 upvotes
Avery James
I'm a pharmacist and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is hit or miss and there's always something going on.
20 upvotes
Roman Foster
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Waylon Mitchell
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The traffic is underrated compared to other places I've lived. Overall Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
10 upvotes
Zoe Johnson
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much wild but now it's better than expected.
9 upvotes
minneapoliswalker2023
good to know, thanks
7 upvotes
Lucas King
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from New York about 5 years ago. The main reasons were work and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Active local events and festivals
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Hope this helps!.
7 upvotes
Madison W.
not my experience at all
4 upvotes
Catherine B.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
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