Hello, I'm single, late 20s, and Poverty rate is 2.7%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $3,249/month for a decent place. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What do you all think? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
10 upvotes
27 Replies
Rachel L.
as a local I can confirm
39 upvotes
Jacob S.
I've lived in Springfield for about 12 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 Diego, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options
- The nightlife scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for young professionals. Good luck with whatever you decide..
38 upvotes
Piper Ward
Totally agree!
38 upvotes
Xavier R.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
36 upvotes
Dylan Ward
thanks for sharing
33 upvotes
Sophia P.
spot on
27 upvotes
tulsagirl2021
been saying this for years
26 upvotes
Leah Morales
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
26 upvotes
Ethan Brown
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 2 years. Moved from Charlotte for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are challenging. 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. Limited public transit options. Bugs and humidity in summer. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Colton Gutierrez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 50, moved here 7 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Fairview and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The food scene situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Seattle, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. 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.
24 upvotes
Aiden Turner
it depends on the neighborhood
23 upvotes
Ian Hall
As someone who grew up here, I love the pace of life here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much affordable but now it's surprisingly good.
22 upvotes
Eva E.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely tough and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene 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
Levi Wood
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 11 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the healthcare is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Fairview side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Mason Morales
exactly what I was thinking
18 upvotes
Daniel Roberts
spot on
11 upvotes
Isaac N.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's not perfect but it works for me. The only thing I'd watch out for is walkability. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Paisley Cooper
been saying this for years
9 upvotes
Valentina C.
lol so true
9 upvotes
Victoria P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 52, moved here 11 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in Downtown and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Limited high-paying job options
3. The outdoor recreation situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for retirees. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: 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 Minneapolis, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. 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.
7 upvotes
Josiah
I've lived in Midtown for about 14 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 Atlanta, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good internet infrastructure
- Strong sense of community
- The dating scene scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited entertainment options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Colton Gutierrez
I work in legal here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is challenging. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
4 upvotes
Easton Bennett
+1
4 upvotes
Delilah R.
I've lived in Pine Hills for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The housing market scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited entertainment options
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for couples. Definitely worth checking out..
3 upvotes
Eliana Turner
Moved here from Austin about 12 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to outdoor recreation but Happy to answer more specific questions..
2 upvotes
Amelia Ramos
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 14 years. Moved from Raleigh for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. marketing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are tough. 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. Homeless population growing downtown. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
All Countries
