Hey, Rent is about $1,527/month for a decent place. Poverty rate is 3.9%, which is pretty low. Household incomes average around $69,661 in Fairfield Harbour. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Anyone in a similar situation? Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The weather takes some getting used to. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
4 upvotes
11 Replies
Evan Martin
+1
40 upvotes
James Stewart
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 3 years. Moved from Miami for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2019 at k and it's now worth about the same 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:**
manufacturing is strong here. tech 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:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Highland schools are hit or miss. 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. Road conditions need improvement. Far from beaches/mountains. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 8/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Zoey Torres
same here
38 upvotes
Cooper Scott
Bought a house here in 2024 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
26 upvotes
Thomas Sanders
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
No regrets on my end..
25 upvotes
Oliver White
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Pittsburgh it's underrated.
23 upvotes
Owen Jones
facts
20 upvotes
Sebastian Bennett
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is job market. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
16 upvotes
Kennedy Harris
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
10 upvotes
Jaxon Martinez
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 LA for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. tech is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is improving - we have state parks 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 improving. 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. Not very walkable outside downtown. Road conditions need improvement. And traffic can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 6/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Kinsley Green
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Charlotte about 6 years ago. The main reasons were school and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good schools in most areas
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are reasonable, gas is underrated.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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