My family moved here when I was a kid. Household incomes average around $50,396 in Florence. You can expect to pay around $784 for rent here. Crime rate is something to consider -Florence sits at 502.0 per 100K. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Let me know your thoughts. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much.
14 upvotes
18 Replies
Christian Brown
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. I have mixed feelings honestly. Worth doing your research before committing.
39 upvotes
Roman Mitchell
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
38 upvotes
Nevaeh Clark
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Baltimore about 9 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- Nice parks and green spaces
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are pricey, gas is solid.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
32 upvotes
Evan Myers
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Old Town. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in government. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
28 upvotes
david_girl
Used to live on the East side, now on the Highland side. Completely different vibe. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
24 upvotes
proud_benjamin31
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 39, moved here 5 years ago from New York. I've lived in Springfield and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited shopping options
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The healthcare situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. hit or miss 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 New York, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with 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.
24 upvotes
autumn_runner
noted, appreciate it
20 upvotes
Leah Bennett
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 43, moved here 3 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Uptown and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The traffic situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Uptown: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: 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 Houston, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. 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.
20 upvotes
Emmett Harris
great question, following
17 upvotes
Bennett Foster
same here
13 upvotes
Genesis
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. it's been a really good experience overall. Worth doing your research before committing.
11 upvotes
Nevaeh Hall
thanks for sharing
11 upvotes
cool_angel92
accurate
10 upvotes
Sadie Phillips
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. community vibe used to be much manageable but now it's average.
6 upvotes
Adam Gutierrez
Weather-wise, the summers are tough and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
3 upvotes
Lily
Bought a house here in 2016 and it was the best decision I ever made. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
2 upvotes
Willow Adams
Used to live on the South side, now on the Greenfield side. Completely different vibe. I genuinely enjoy living here.
2 upvotes
Eva Wright
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 6 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
All Countries
