Hi all, Been living here since 2009. Rent is about $2,380/month for a decent place. It's a a small town city with about 10,477 people. Median household income is $102,886, which feels pretty solid for the area. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Am I wrong here? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's not perfect, but the community is solid.
12 upvotes
13 Replies
Reagan Phillips
Came here for work and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The walkability is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Claire W.
Used to live on the Highland side, now on the The Heights side. Completely different vibe. it's been a really good experience overall.
38 upvotes
Amelia Baker
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely excellent and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Sunset) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe 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.
31 upvotes
Addison S.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a writer, 49, moved here 4 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Oak Park and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Affordable housing options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The healthcare situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for retirees. surprisingly good 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 Nashville, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $50K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. 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.
29 upvotes
dallas_julia
Used to live on the The Heights side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
26 upvotes
Audrey Foster
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much stable but now it's pretty good.
25 upvotes
Audrey Rivera
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Wesley Cook
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
14 upvotes
Alexander Hughes
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 30, moved here 15 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Springfield and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not very walkable outside downtown
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The housing market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for couples. solid vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: 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 hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. 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.
14 upvotes
Jayden Moore
wish I knew this sooner
5 upvotes
Carter Ross
as a local I can confirm
5 upvotes
Brittany N.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Phoenix about 15 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Close to major attractions
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Bennett Edwards
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 15 years. Moved from San Diego for retirement. 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 a bit 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. finance 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 wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is challenging - 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. Pine Hills 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 safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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