Random thought, I grew up here but left for a while. It's a a smaller city city with about 97,227 people. The median home value here is around $322,500, which seems about average. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Am I overthinking this? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The city has invested a lot in new development. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
3 upvotes
25 Replies
Violet Rogers
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Houston it's solid.
39 upvotes
Katherine Phillips
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
36 upvotes
Ian A.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if nightlife matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
35 upvotes
Angel Sanders
Moved here from Portland about 7 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to food scene but Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Amelia M.
This.
34 upvotes
Austin H.
Moved here from Seattle about 6 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to job market but Hope this helps!.
34 upvotes
Beverly H.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 27, moved here 9 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in West and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Can feel isolated
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for singles. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: 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 San Francisco, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K 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.
33 upvotes
Bella Long
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 healthcare. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
31 upvotes
Nova Peterson
same here
29 upvotes
Colton Robinson
honestly same experience here
28 upvotes
Sebastian Roberts
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
27 upvotes
Kai Miller
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 50, moved here 3 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Sunset and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Affordable housing options
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The walkability situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: 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 Nashville, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
25 upvotes
Daniel Bailey
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely improving and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Eastside) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
25 upvotes
Axel F.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 41, moved here 5 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Meadowbrook and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The safety situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. excellent 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 Miami, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $90K-$140K 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.
25 upvotes
Isabella Murphy
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely excellent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Eastside) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
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.
24 upvotes
Ezra Anderson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Fairview. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
12 upvotes
Eleanor Kim
Bought a house here in 2015 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
8 upvotes
Jayden Ruiz
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great farm-to-table places. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
8 upvotes
Levi H.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
6 upvotes
David Cox
I work in engineering here and it's exactly what I was looking for. The job market for my field is better than expected. Hope this helps!.
5 upvotes
Connor W.
couldn't agree more
5 upvotes
Abigail Sanders
following this thread
3 upvotes
Ryan H.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Highland for 1 years. Moved from Phoenix for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
consulting is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have hiking trails 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 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. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Limited shopping options. And dating scene 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.
2 upvotes
Camila Morris
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
All Countries
