Hey everyone, I work in manufacturing and Poverty rate is 11.1%, which is around average. The weather takes some getting used to. Does this match your experience? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
19 upvotes
28 Replies
Owen Smith
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
38 upvotes
Hazel Ross
I'm a teacher and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
38 upvotes
Elijah J.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value traffic, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely tough and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Pine Hills) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Limited public transit 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.
36 upvotes
Easton Baker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Charlotte 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 Highland. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in tech. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
32 upvotes
Everly R.
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much developing but now it's hit or miss.
32 upvotes
Julian Hall
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Pine Hills for 9 years. Moved from Atlanta for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. legal 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:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is solid - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Pine Hills schools are surprisingly good. 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. Dating scene is rough. And job market can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Peyton R.
underrated comment
27 upvotes
Autumn Patel
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Sunset. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in construction. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
26 upvotes
Austin Ramirez
Moved here from New York about 6 years ago. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Still getting used to healthcare but Feel free to reach out with questions..
23 upvotes
Matthew L.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in East for 4 years. Moved from Austin for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2023 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. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. finance 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:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is surprisingly good - we have beaches 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Property taxes are high. And pet-friendliness can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 8/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
23 upvotes
Addison Hernandez
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
22 upvotes
Claire Gray
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 2 years. Moved from Pittsburgh for quality of life. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is solid. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. finance is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is excellent - 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. Springfield 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. Limited public transit options. Rising rent and home prices. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
sunny_miles79
Came here for cost of living and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The school system is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
21 upvotes
Landon Ortiz
been saying this for years
21 upvotes
Sophia Hughes
thanks for sharing
18 upvotes
Nevaeh Ward
I'm a lawyer and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
17 upvotes
Miles Moore
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great farm-to-table places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
16 upvotes
Riley Murphy
spot on
14 upvotes
Luca Myers
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from New York about 13 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good internet infrastructure
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are developing, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Hope this helps!.
11 upvotes
Jack Young
I've lived in Highland for about 11 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 Portland, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Close to major attractions
- The cost of living scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
Wyatt
hmm interesting perspective
10 upvotes
Landon Foster
honestly same experience here
9 upvotes
James Adams
haha yep pretty much
7 upvotes
Lillian Rodriguez
I'm a electrician and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is decent and there's always something going on.
5 upvotes
Aurora Gray
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 40, moved here 3 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in Midtown and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good airport with direct flights
2. Diverse dining options
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for remote workers. improving vibes, walkable.
- West: 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 hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $100K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
4 upvotes
Jaxon Long
I'm a project manager and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is excellent and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
Mia Watson
Can confirm, been here 14 years.
1 upvotes
Hannah Hughes
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely decent and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
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.
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