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Kennedy Reed living

What I wish I knew before living in Highland

First post here. I work in insurance and With a population of 19,625, Highland is a small town. Rent is about $2,100/month for a decent place. The unemployment rate is 2.3%, which is pretty low. Homes are going for about $846,900 on average. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.

Pros:
- Good job market
- Close to nature
- Diverse community

Cons:
- Traffic can be terrible
- Limited dining options
- High property taxes
- Poor road conditions
- Chain restaurants dominate
Has anyone dealt with this? It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The city has invested a lot in new development. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
3 upvotes

11 Replies

Aiden Anderson
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great sushi places. I love the pace of life here.
39 upvotes
Madeline Anderson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Dallas about 12 years ago. The main reasons were weather and family.

Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong sense of community

Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Road conditions need improvement

Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are developing, gas is hit or miss.

Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Hudson Robinson
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 better than expected and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.

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
Bella B.
same here
33 upvotes
aaron_native
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
33 upvotes
Theodore Scott
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 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 3-bed in South. It's decent for what you get.

Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in education. If you're in legal you might struggle.

People: Generally excellent. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: average. Tons of options if you like Italian.

Hope this helps!.
25 upvotes
Avery C.
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 15 years here, that's my honest assessment.
19 upvotes
Caleb Lopez
big facts right here
19 upvotes
Ellie
I've lived in The Heights for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

I love the pace of life here. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Four distinct seasons
- The job market scene is underrated

The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate

Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for young professionals. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
4 upvotes
abigail_mind
Totally agree!
4 upvotes
proud_camila95
I've been living here for 15 years and I'd say I genuinely enjoy living here. The community vibe is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
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